PR 5175 
.P3 N63 
Copy 1 




PLAICE 13 CEINTSS* 



W^ 



^T^&^ DE WITT'S ACTING- PLAYS. 



( N»iinh>er 84. ) 




NOT GUILTY. 



A DRAMA, IN FOUR ACTS. 
By watts PHILLIPS, Esq. 

Author of "The Dead Heart," "Ticket of Leave," "Nobody's Child, 
"Maud's Peril," "Lost in London," etc., etc. 



AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE QUEEN S THEATRE, LONG 

ACRE, (under THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. W. H. 

lilSTON,) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22d, 1869. 



TO WHICH AUE ADDED 



A description of the Costume— Cast of the Characters— Entrances and Exits- 
Relative Positions of the Performers on the Stage, and 
the whole o f the Stage Business. 




-♦-+H»M-<- 



ROBERT M. DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

No. 33 Rose Street. H^* 




.voir 



r PEEP O* DAY. An Irish Romantic Drama, in Four Acts. By Ed- 
' mund Falconer. Price 15 Cents. 

TfiP4Tijr ] THRICE MARRIED. A Personation Piece, in One Act. By 
-"-^^ ! HowardPaul Price 15 Cents. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 



1^" Flease notice that nearlif all the Comedies, Farces and Comediettas in the following 
hst {/"De "Witt's Acting Plays" ar<? very suitable for representation in small AmMeur Thea- 
tres and on Parlor Stages, as they need but little extHnsic aid fj^om complicated scenery or 
expensive costumes. They have attained their deserved popularity by their droll situations 
excellent plots, great humor and brilliant dialogues, no less than by the fact that they are the 
most perfect in every respect of any edition of plays ever published either in the United States 
or Europe, whether as regards puHty of the text, accuracy and fulness of stage directions and 
scenery, or elegance of typography and clearness of pHyiting. 

*^* In ordering please copy the figures at the commencement qf each piece, which indicate 
the number of the piece in "De Witt's List of Acting Plats." 

^^ Any of the following Plays sent, postage free on. receipt of price 15 

cents each. 

Address, ROBERT M. DEWITT, 

JVo. 33 Hose Sheet, JV'ew Tork. 

E^ Tlie figure following the name of the Play denotes the number of 

Acts. The figures in the columns indicate the number of characters M, male • 

F. female. 



No. M. 

75. Adrienn«, drama, 3 acts 7 

114. Anything for a Change, comedy, 1 3 
167. Apple Blossoms, comedy, 3 acts 7 

93. Area Belle (The), farce, 1 act 3 

40. Atchi, comedietta, 1 act 3 

89. Aunt Charlotte's Maid, farce, 1 act. . 3 

192. Game of Cards (A), comedietta, 1 3 
166. Bardell vs. Pickwick, sketch, 1 act. 6 

41. Beautiful Forever, farce, 1 act 2 

141. Bells (The), drama, 3 acts 9 

67. Birthplace of Podgers, farce, 1 act . . 7 
36. Black Sheep, drama, 3 acts 7 

160. Blow for Blow, drama, 4 acts 11 

70. Bonnie Fish Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

179. Breach of Promise,, drama, 2 acts.. 5 
25. Broken-Hearted Club, comedietta. 1 4 

24. Cabman, No. 93, farce, 1 act . 2 

1. Caste, comedy, 3 acts 5 

69. Caught by the Cuff, farce, 1 act 4 

175. Cast upon the World, drama, 5 acts. 10 
55. Catharine Howard, historical play, 

3 acts 12 

80. Charming pair, farce, 1 act 4 

65. CheCRmate, comedy, 2 acts 6 

68. Chevalier de St. George, drama, 3 9 
Chops of the Channel, farce, 1 act. 3 

Clouds, comedy, 4 acts 8 

Comical Countess, farce, 1 act 3 

Cupboard Love, farce, 1 act 2 

Cupid's Eye-Glass, comedy, 1 act... 1 

Cup of Tea, comedietta, 1 act 3 

Cut off with a Shilling, comedietta, 

1 act 2 

Cyrill's Success, comedy, 5 acts 10 

Captain of the Watch (The), come- 
dietta, 1 act 4 

Daddy Gray, d -ama, 3 acts 8 

Datidelion's Dodges, fari-e, 1 act 4 

David Gar rick, comedy, 3 acts 8 

Dearest Mamma, comedietta, 1 act, 4 

Dearer than Life, drama, 3 act« 6 

Deborah (Leah) drama, 3 acts 7 

Deerfoot, farce. 1 act 5 

Doing for the Best, drama, 2 acts. . 5 ; 
Dollars and Cents, comedy, 3 acts. . 9 



101 



131 



76. 
149. 
121. 
107. 
152. 

52. 
148. 

113. 
199. 

20. 
4. 



16. 

58. 
125. 

71. 
1«2. 



5 
3 


151. 

8. 


5 


180. 


3 


19. 


2 


60. 




187. 




174. 




64. 




190. 




191. 




197. 


1 


18. 


4 






116. 


2 




4 


129. 


2 


1,59. 


3 


122. 


3 


177. 


5 


100. 


6 


139. 


1 


17. 


3 


86. 


4 


72. 



. Dreams, drama, 5 acts 6 

. DuchessdelaValliere, play, 5acts!! 6 

. Easy Shaving, farce, 1 act 5 

. Everybody's Friend, comedy, 3 acts! 6 

. Estranged, an operetta, 1 act 2 

. Faust and Marguerite, drama, 3 acts', 9 
t earful Tragedy in the Seven Dials. 

interlude, 1 act 4 

Female Detective, drama, 3"acts'.'!."ll 

Fernande, drama, 3 acts n 

Fifth Wheel, comedy, 3 acts 10 

First Love, comedy, ] act 4 

Foiled, drama. 4 acts ' " " 9 

Founded on Facts, farce, i act 4 

Garrick Fever, farce, 1 act " 7 

Gertrude's Money Box, farce, 1 act. 4 
Golden Fetter (Fettered), drama, 3 11 
Goose with the Golden Eggs, farce 

1 act ' 5 

Go to Putney, farce, l" act. 4 

Happy Pair, comedietta, 1 act. ! ' " ' " 1 

Hard Case (A), farce, 1 act .2 

Henry Dunbar, drama, 4 acts. . 10 

Henry the Fifth, historical play, 5 38 

He's a Lunatic, farce, 1 act 3 

Hidden Hand, drama, 4 acts . . '5 

His Own Enemy, farce, 1 act 4 

Home, comedv, 3 acts 4 

Household Fairy, sketch, i act!.!!. 1 
Hunting the Slipper, farce, 1 act. . . . 4 

High C, comedietta, 1 act 4 

Hunchback (The), play, 5 acts ....!! 14 2 
if I Had a Thousand a Year, farce, 

1 act 4 3 

I'm Not Mesilf at All, 'original Jri'sh 

stew, 1 act 3 2 

In for a Holiday, farce, 1 act ! ! ! '. '. ! ! 2 3 
In the Wrong House, farce, 1 act. 4 2 

Isabella Orsini, drama, 4 acts 11 4 

I Shall Invite the Major, comedy, 14 1 

Jack Long, drama, 2 acts 9 2 

Joy IS Dangerous, comedy, 2 acts. .,33 
Kind to a Fault, comedv, 2 acts .... 6 4 

Lady of Lyons, plav, 5 acts 12 5 

Lame Excuse, farce, 1 act 4 f 



I 



NOT GUILTY. 



% ^vama. 



IN FOUR ACTS. 



Br WATTS PHILLIPS, Esq., 

M 

AtUhor of «' Tfie Dead Heart," " Ticket of Leave," " Nobody's adld," " MauxCs Pertly' 

*^ Lost in London," ^^ A Goldm Fetter," etc., etc. 



AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE QUEEN'S THEATER, LONG ACRE, 

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. W. H. LISTON, 

ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1869. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES — CIST OP THE CHARACTERS — EN- 
TRANCES AND EXITS — RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PER- 
FORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE 
CF THE STAGE BUSINESS. 



NEW YORK: 
ROBERT M. DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

No. 33 Rose Street. 



C-v ? 



Z NOT GUILTY. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

Queen's Theatre, 
Long Acre, Feb. 22, 1869. 

Captain Willoughby. j jl,. g ^meky. 

Silas Jarrett. ) 

Jack Snipe Mr. J. L. Toole. 

Trjggs Mr, L. Brough. 

Trumble Mr. J. Howard. 

Mr. St. Clair Mr. John Ci.ayton- 

Hobert Arnold Mr. Henry Irving. 

Polecat Mr. C. Seyton. 

Isaac Vidler Mr. W. Stephens- 

Wattles Mr. H. Mellon. 

Governor Mr. Keet Webb. 

rolicemen, Bakers, Recruits, Jailers, Villagers, Convicts, Warders, Offi- 
cers, Soldiers, etc., etc. 

Margaret Armitaare ) ,,. „ tt 

Alice Armitage (her Daughter.) J ^'^^ Henrietta Hodson. 

1*0117 Miss H. EvERAi.-©. 

Mrs. McTavish Miss Ewell. 

/ Miss Sutherland. 

I-adies | Miss Norman. 

( Miss St. Clair. 

%*The main incidents of this drama, as connected -with Silas Jarrett, is a FACT 
recorded in one of the most celebrated of criminal trials. ^ 



PROGRAMME OF SCENERY. 

ACT I.— 1847. 

Scene I —A STREET IN SOUTHAMPTON. 

THE EAR GATE. 

Scene I L— I NTERIOR OF A GAERET. 

Scene III —A PORTION OF SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS. 

Scene IV.- OUTWARD BOUND. 

THE MADRAS BOAT. 

ACT Tl. 

THE QUARRIES AT DARTMOOR. 

THE CONVICTS. 

ACT III.— INDIA, 1857. 

ScENEl.— BHURTPOOR. 

A Mtlitarij Post and Trading Out-Statim on the Banks of the Jumna, 

Scene II.-INTERIOR OF VERANDAH IN MR. ST. CLAIR'S BUNGALOW. 

Scene III. - A DESERTED BATTLE FIELD (India.) 

ACT IV. 
OAKFIELD GRANGE (Xear Boutuampton ) 
QiFT 
EST. OF J. H. CORNING 
JUNE 20. 19-^0 



iq^OT G-UILTT. 



SCENERY. 

^(yrp i^— Scene I. —Southampton Bar. 



streets in Perspective. 



Archway. 



House. 



House, 



bear the usual 
" Who il serve the Uucen I " 



•Archway c, backed by streets in perspective. Act opens upon a corner o£^ rcefc 
in Southampton ; h. and L. of 2d grooves, two houses buUt l^'-l'^'XoZs-Z 
rendezvous and recruiting house, called, "The Iron Duke, kept bj J. 13obb., the 
sign representing the Wellington effigy. The walls of the •' public 
recruiting post bills-" Fine Young Men Wanted, , , ,. 

etc • the other house, k., forming corner of a street, is a Tvell-to-do looking middle- 
class residence. On the dfx>r is a large plate, upon which appears the name of 
- Trumble, Solicitor," As the curtain rises to the tunc of the '' British Grenadiers ' 
Wattles, a recruiting sergeant, is discovered fixing a huge bunch of ribbons on a 
Coustuyman's hat. Tkiggs, Polly Dobbs, and others, male and female, looking 
oil a Girl pouring out liquor. Some L'oi.DiEns arc lounging about the door, and a 
semi-drunken band, consisting of a Dkummeu and a PiFF.r., are playing at intervals 
—while through the lar-e open French window of Tucmblk's house, first floor, n., 
(this window must be so constructed that the action going on within the room is 
visible to the entire Audience.) 

AC2' I.— Scene II.— Interior of a Garret, miserably furnished. 



I Window. I : Bedstead : 

' Pallet. 



Door. 



Door. 



Table and Chair. 



O- 



The bare walls blotched with damp-the ceiling showing the rafters m places. Door, 
K. (diagonal.) Another door, L., half glazed, leads to an inner room. Window at 
back, 11. c, looks out into a narrow street, and upon the parapet of opposite house. 
The furui'.uiv of tlie room consists ot a chair, a table, a candlestick, in which abo.ut 



NOT GUILTY. 



an inch of candle is burning, and a pallet bed, in recess in L. flat. On the bed 
Alice, a child of about six years old, is lying, covered by a ragged counterpane. 
Moonlight. 

ACT 1.— Scene III.— A portion of the Southampton Docks. Steamer bell ringing. 

ACT I.— Scene TV. —A portion of the interior of a sleeping cabin on board the 
" Begum," packet ship to Madras. The ship is seen lengthways. The scene divided, 
so as to show in perspective the elevation of the poop, with mast, sail, rigging, lifeboat, 
etc., etc. Man at the wheel, Officer of the Watch near him ; the latter nodding 
asleep. On the level of the stage, the whole interior of cabin is visible, berths on each 
side, ladder ascending to poop-deok, stern portholes showing the rippling sea, wliich 
is also visible beyond the poop-decks in a shimmer of moonlight. Cabin table, 
chairs, etc., as in passenger boat of the second class. A table, beneath the usual 
swing lamp, Silas Jarrett seated, his head is uncovered, showing a bush of red 
hair, wliile the lower part of his face is concealed by a thick beard of the same color. 
He wears a loose great coat Two bottles are on table, and he is drinking from a 
glass, which he constantly refills. 

ACT IL— Scene I.— The Quarries at Dartmoor. 



Moor with Boulders, 



Convict Prison. 



Large Hill 

of 

Eocks 



~^'^. 



mtor w ,i ^T"" '"^ "^'^^^^ ^^^^^"^^' '■- 1° ^^^ extreme distance a Vast extent of 
hu^e'blld ''"V,'''^"^''''"^' ""'^^ ^^""'^ ^«"^^^^ ^""'^^ o^- t«^-«- Down stage, l. 
s,.en.l,„>. » ' P^^^'^^^y worked, a rough road is quarried among them, de- 

scending by a gentle incline to stage. To r, near c, and somewhat further up 
fetage, the dark boulders rise into a sort of hill, from the top of which another road 
IS quarried, also descending amidst rock and ferns to and off stage. On the summit 
ol this heap of rocks, stunted trees with other varieties of wild, coarse vegetation ; 
framed, so to speak, by this foreground ; the quarries stretch out behind, full of 
caves and crevices, towering up or descending suddenly into deep fissures, old and 
neglected workings half hidden by the hardy herbage which clings even to these 
rugged rocks. The prison is on a height. A gloomy range of buildings, which, 
though distant, dominn.tes by its very presence, the savage scene. Convicts are 
grouped everywhere about at work, quarrying or wheeling off slate in red trucks, 
under the guard of "Warders, in dark blue uniform, with white metal buttons 
(frock-coat, leather belt, black varnished cap.) Some of these Warders carry mus- 
kets, others wear swords. The " Good Conduct " Convicts wear loose, a frock with 
knickerbockers and coarse woollen stockings, all of a dirty blue with pink stripes. 
The " Bad Characters," B. C, are clad in drab and black parti-color, and they work 
iFith a belt fastened round the waist under the frock. All have the tunic cut frock, 



NOT GUILTY. ^ 

With buttons in front, knickerbockers of same pattem-the B. C, " Bad Conduct," 
have one knickerbocker of black, the other drab, ditto stockings-the caps more 
like those of the Chasseurs d'Afrique than the Glengarry, are of the same stuff as 
frock with same stripes-the boots strongly made highlows. The Convicts carry 
various quarrying tools, picks, &c. As curtain rises, IIobekt Aknold, m " good con- 
duct" dress is discovered at work, L. x i- ^r, th^ 

ACT 111.- Scene I.-Bhurtpoor, a military post and trading out-station on tne 
banks of the Jumna. . . . . • 



View of Bhurtpoor. 



Bungalow. 



Trelliswork. 



Cotton stores. : 
Bales of Cotton. : • 

[] : 

[] [] i 

Counting-House. : 




• 4. AT„ ST CLAiu-verandah, etc., of light treUia, 
R., exterior of bungalow belonging to jmk. ^ • _^ ^^^^^ ^^ exterior of counting- 
and relieved by a profusion of creeping t^*"^^^^,^,^ ^^^^ marking cotton bales, etc. 

'TcflirLl m.-A deserted battle-ftdd iu the neighborhood ot- Bhurtpoor. 



Cantonment in flames. _ 



Eocks.O 4 k 

Palm 



Mound. 
i I Rock. 



0-0 



il 



— ^Rocks. 
Tree. "^ 



Fascinesj &c. 



Mound. : 



Gun-Carriages. pi^tform, 

1 ;■•; 00 



G KOT GUlLXr. 

In foreground, some broken gun-carriages, fascines, and other military debris. In 
extreme distance, the cantonment in flames— in middle distance a contused mass o* 
oriental vegetation, interspersed -with blocks of stone etc., above which a feathery- 
palm rears its tall and graceful head— a piece of rock, r. 2 e.— platform raking from 
L. 2 E. to nearly c. of stage. Mound of earth behind 2d grooves, and rising to back of 
stage with platforms raked to go off at L. V. e. and u. u. e. The firing, which has 
been heard at intervals, grows more and more distant, then dies utterly away aa 
EoBEBT Arnold and Jack Snipe enter down raking piece from L. 2d grooves -the 
latter wildly excited. 
ACT IV.—Scene I.— Oakfield Grange, Mb. St. Clair's house, near Southampton. 



t t t r 

Trees. 



Garden Walls. 



Pavilion. 



Garden Fence. 



Shrubberies. 
Table and Chairs. Table and ChaiiS. 



Bntance to House. 



ricturesque entrance to house, l.— small pavilion, r. u. e. Shrubberies, masking 
garden walks, l. c. • -gates on country road — towards B ^here is a garden fence— a 
small wicket gate, this gate, like the larger gates, is open— at extreme back, trees, 
above which is seen ivy-clad tower of church— garden tables n. and l., with chaii-s-- 
bird on table, u. 



PROPERTIES. 

Bunch of ribbons • basket of tools ; pots of ale ; legal papers : matches, to light ; 
half crown ; candlestick and short candle ; locksmith's tools ; candle : jug of 
water : basket of provisions ; pocket-book, full of notes and papers ; ten pound 
note ; live pound note ; handcuffs ; portmanteau ; trucks with baggage — brown 
paper parcel ; two bottles ; wine-glass : pistol ; knife ; bank-notes ;sred wig, and 
red beard; red trucks for Convicts to carry stones on ; muskets; swords; picks, 
shovels, etc., for Convicts ; purse with money ; locket ; handfull of flowers ; lit- 
tle satin slipper ; diary-book ; watch. 



TIME IN REPRESENTATION— TWO HOURS AND A HALF. 

{For Synopsis and Stage DirecUons, see pag s 48, 49, and 50.] 



NOT GUILTY. 



ACT r. 

SCENE \.— Southampton Bato 

Trumble writing ot an old-fashioned bureau covered with papers. 

Wattles (c, after pinning on ribhom). There, a man needirt be born 
a sevetiLli son to prophesy your fii ".ire career. You've comraander-in- 
cliief wrilteti \u every line of joui- noble, and inielligenL physiognomy I 
(Omnes laiigli.) 

RiXRUiT {laughing stupidly). N^a, you bean't serious, sergeant? 

Wat. Not serious! (^o Bystanders). Ladi- s and uenLlemen, let me 
ciU your aitention to tliis betutitul picture. Inciease tlie nose, enlarue 
the forehead, hriiiii out the cliin, and chaiioe the entire expression of ihe 
counienaiice, and may I never laste aleasain, but we've a livinnr, breaih- 
ins likeness of [pointing to sign) ihe Great Duke himself, il'iugh) This 
other bow on your breast— your manly bieiist, and you'd be an orna- 
ment to 

Enter Triggs, from house r. trho is dressed in shihhy black, and has the 
appearance of a lawyer^ s cli rk. 

Triggs. A poulterer's sliop ! If you c«nrd only ])ut your liver un'er 
one aim. and your L'izzard under the o;ht^r, I siiouldn't know you from 
a ])rize turkey at Chris mas. {I'nujh.) 

Wat. {turning to Triggs). AikI you, my noble youth ] 

Trig. No, don't— jilease don't. Tve no i)retensi(in to anything of tlie 
kind ; there'isn't the sliohteat mysterv come iiiii2 either of my parents, 
and I iiaven't such a tiiinfi as a strawberry mark anywhere about me. 

Wat. You'll take the Qu 'ei.'.^ monoy 1 

Trig. Not if I know it ! I wouldn't, r. b her of a farthingr, 

Wat. a vol. nil lello.v like you sliould serve your countrv. 

'J'rig'. So I do — thai is, 1 serve my counirymen. I'm a lawyer's clerk. 

Wattles tarns nwai/ in disgust and joins recruits, etc., about door, while 
Polly Dobbs comes forward. Recruits and ^o^ldier^ gradually en- 
xcr house, L., Sergeant and Drummer remain. 

Polly (tvfh afecltd surprise). You here st.ll, Mr. Triaos 1 
Trig. vT/s/rr Trigi^s ! Call me Joe— 1 can d.sp -use with respect till 
we're married. , t 

Pol. Well, what nonsense you do talk, Joe ; when you know Im en- 



b NOT GUILTY. 

gaged to go to India wiili Mrs. Doctor McTavisli, and before many hours 
are over shall be a-iossiiig on the briny ocean. 

Tkig. Witli those wavy outlines — oh ! 

Pol. I've jnsi taken leave of uncle, and my boxes are already on 
boar<I, A gi 1 must better herself, Joe. 

Trw. Better her eif ! Haven't I filed my declaration and made yon 
a legal offer of niani.ise — before witnesses, mhn\ you — before witnesses? 

Pol. (cnntrmptaousi;/). Maiiia^ie on seventy pounds a- year! 

Trig. Willi jirospecis, Miss Dobhs — with prosiiects ! 

Pol. Most jieople who live in garrets have lots of those — acres of 
ti!es, and fore-Is of chimney-j)o;s ! 

Trig Oh. don't turn uj) >oui de'icious little snub at seventy pounds 
a-year ! Ecoi.omically m.inai:'!!, it's a fortune. 

Pol Eiononiicaily m ii a^ed I <^o I look like economy 1 

TiuG. Fat and leelinss sho hi idwa\s go together. 

Poi-. Nonsense! the hush.M.d that I c noose mug t be like a snail in on« 
thing — he nnist bring me a louse on his back. ' 'Oith chnuge of manner and 
extending hmid) Good-bye, Joe ; this is about the forty-fifth pnning we 
have had dining the last twenty-four hours. Oood-bye, I shall come 
back anfdp. [Polly exits ivto house, t,. 

Trig, {with emotion, and dropping f>fir hand). Come back ! of couise yon 
will — ihin, ])erha|)s, and wile lo a Nabub, and mother to half-a-dozen 
india-rubber looking children, (looking after her) Oh, woman, woman 1 
once it was love, and now it's furniture. But I'm a nejilecting bnsine.'>s, 
ihi»u2h love i«5 so much a mutter of busineso noiv-a-days that it's d fficult 
to know one from tiie other, {iodking up at ui»dow of home, l ) Theie's 
Trumble, hard at woik at the cjuaiierly accounts, twisting noughts iiii.<» 
s xes and nines — to))j ii g and laJing, he calls it. I was to be lack in 
weniy minutes with Mr. St. C air, but, bless mr — what can time matter 
.() old Trumble, except to char<ie lor it ? (Soi.niEU.s kingrny viddu tavirn 
(IS Triggs exits, r. u. e. Trumble rises from chair, cowes to utt/dow.) 

'J'rcmble {irrttai(d, oside, ai,d gnawing fe<ithci of pa:'-. Calculation's 
impossible with all this noise. {gUmcivg out as SSoldiers. &iC.,come dourn 
stage; Polly also re-appci.rs. ti Iking to ivv-heiptr) Gallant fellows — 
they're t<» be .shipped off i a few nours, uiiU it a a consolation to think 
we max n't S(>c any more of them. 

Recruits and Soldiers sit at table. Goes hark to bureau end re-seats him- 
self, as Robert Arnold, in the costume of a journeyman locksmith, enters 
at ba^k, r , as turning the corner of tavern. He carries a ba.<iket of tools at 
his back, and is whistling merrily. Re-etHer Polly, from house, l. 

Robert. Hilloh. sergeant ! Ililloh, Puhy ! (sczing her round the 
W'list, gives her a ki-s before she can prevent him) If you will put such 
tempting ciierries in a iumiiry lellow's way you mu.'-t ( xpect he'll have 
a snap at t!)em. Don't pout, Polly, or rilrrpeat the ( ff^rce out of de.s- 
jtpration. Let's have mtu'c hoer — oceins nu)re I 1 st: nd classes round. 
('' I shout and come fo> ward) And Pollv — {stepping he*- as she is gcii-g) touch 
the rim of niy aj .ss wit i youv lips, just to corect the a( idity. 

Pol. ilivghing (nd i-hakh g hcrsdf hose) Y u'd be al t lie better f r 
Corr. c:ion of some kind, {pntchds to b x his ear, then enters house. L ) 

Wat. A patting gla.ss, eh, ]]■ b .' 

Rob. Parting a'nss ? not a b t of it — I jio with you. 

All You! You go lo the Injips — you! 

Rob. {laughing and striking atlitade). No less a j^erson than Robert 
Arnold ! Bob Arnold on week days, and Mister Robert Arnod when he 
walks out on a Sundav. 



ACT I- i) 

Wat. {shaking hands). I'm (le'iglited ! (Men shout ^^ bravo'") We're all 
deli,'liLed ! 

Rob. All but the women. {chucJdng Polly unlcr chin as she pours out 
ale which she has brought) Bless their liiLle beaits, 'tisu't my luuU if they 
love me. 

Pol. (^clapping hands). We shall be fellowp.-i' sen^pi's, then. Oh, how 
nice! [Rkcruits exit into inn, l. 

Rob. Y.?.s. ( placing basket of tools on stage by t'lble) There are my tools 
wliic I [ hive iiserl to-day for the last tune, to take up the trade of war, 
and Miste:' m »nd Wiiloughby 

Wat. O.ir C.ipLiin ! 

Rob. Takes mi ou^ witli him as confidential c^erk, and ilaughs) to re- 
flect a last:e on tlie lirii is i jinny. ( omi iaugh in kouse, l. T/ieg go up stare 
laughing an I Udking. Trumblk riscs^ places papers in bureau, which he 
loc'cs, then re-appears at win low.) 

Trum. Tiiat fellow, Tr.jiiis, has loitered on th? road as nsual. I'd 
bitter mset Mr. St. Ciair half way, f r Ihis noise is unendurable. 

Shuts window, rs he does so, SrLAs Jarrett appears at back, from l. Loud 
laujh in t iveni as hs enters. He pauses at sight of group before the tav- 
ern, ani sit^'Vi'jrth?- scene. He in a ragged young feUow with a sort cf 
hybrid appexrancs. between a mendicant tramp and a dock laborer. A 
taste for gauiy colors is shoum in the greasy red and yellow handkerchief 
twined about his neck, and the equalij greasy ribbon that dangles from his 
torn straw h%t. His hiir, ivhich is uncombed, hangs in tangled masses' 
over his forehead, a sort of thatch, beneath which his eyes peer out in a sin- 
ister and swage manner. 

Silas Curse t'lem ! vviiat a row they're muking ! If I knew how to 
stop til iir in?:*i-iMienL, I would! I can't bear to see peoi)le enjoyiritr 
tliem elve<; ib'< an insult to my razs and misery, (still nnperceived by the 
joyo'is groip ab)'ct tave n door, he comes slowly forward, limping slightly, as 
fodsore) E ijoy tiiems-^lvps! t!ie fools! ii's bief {)Ieisnre wiiiiont money! 
i'lere's 11.) )e:t A ij >i 1, lioie>t, hard work. nj? Rob rt — who's always 
m )c!{i!i::j ni', or pttroni/-:nT Ui3 wiiij the insolence of his piiy. {snvcgdy) 
ll>nast R»l)irt! fjood V '>^tt ! hirdworkinnj ll(»bert ! Ah! if haie 
co'ild kill you'd have b^e.i da id lonj; ago. (leans against W(dl of Trum- 
ble's h-niae in th". shadow, as Tiiu.UBLE comes out, closes door behind him, 
anlpis4nj SiiiAS without n^ttice. c.rti n. C.) Tliere goes another sort of 
f JO , a rich on??, w!i > pi )dj ! j) u lo ! plods! plods ! like the woiking bee, 
n it cirin:i to enj )y the honey ho creates. They're looking this way, and 
are tilkin j i^i^uL ni) no do lo^ [changing manner suddenly to that of a man 
I'lbjrin^ a t t-r nemi-i ifoxination) The e's no mask like drunkenness, be- 
hiad it one cm learn th^ thoughts of others, and conceal one's own. 

Pol (speikinj in gro u rfn-t tavern 'door). Isn't that Silas Jarrett^ 

RiB. (silting o'l table, c.) i>ran;v as usual. 

P.)L. Why do I't you geD him to enlist, Sergeant Wat lies ] 

W4T. D'cuise I'm the only man from whom ho won't take a shilling. 
By the w.iv, have you ever rmiked the singular likeness that exists 
batween him and our young captJiinl 

R )B. Wh ) coull he off i- ninrkini it. It's one of those freiks of Na- 
ture whicli Captain Ormond Willonghy has a right to complain of — that 
is, if ha were aware of the existence of such an idle, quarrelsome vaga- 
bond. 

Wat. How long has he been in SouthamptOQ ? 

Pol. About a month, I think. 



10 NOT GUILTY. 

Rob. He landed from one of ihe French boats, and has been loafhig ir 
the docks ever since. 

During ihe above conversation Qxh AS, with a staggering sU-p, has approach-cd 
them. He tries to overhear uhat they arx saying under cover of lighting 
Ids pipe, which he makes assumed drunken and ineffectual efforts to do. 

SiL. {trying matches on slreve). Han<i the iiiatclies ! they won't lake 
fire! 'Dial's because I ni as diin\\y ouis de as I'm dry wiihin. {^tuggerimf 
as if by accident agoifist Uobert) 11 lloli ! .<(>niel»t'dy's drunk here. (//iV) 
Ha! it's \ on, Robert Arnold, ii's you! {hie) Drunk as tisual ! V\n {ha) 
ashamed of ycu ! {'ill laugh) Give me a lig.iL 

Rob. {giving light). Here's one ; will you have anythinjr else"? 

(SiL. {qiiickhj). Wlio's lo ])ay 1 I liavei.'l {liir) had the ghost of a 
fanhiiiii in my i)Ocket for weeks; I've beju going on t.c'.c like a clock, 
but {hic) I'm run do.vn at la>t ! 

Rob. {'S Polly Ji Is glass and Silas eagerly drinks). I stand treat ! {giv- 
ing Polly monnj.) 

SiL. Y<iu seem flush of money just now. I shouhlu'c wonder but you 
could tell me what ilie ta^ie of meat is like *? I've q;.iie Jorgotlen. 

Rob. Wiiy doi.'t you woik 1 

SiL, {icith a drunken laugh). Wi.rking ! {holding out hnnd which is shnking 
visibly) Who do you think wdl cn<2a2e a liand like t!iat? Why {htc) ii's 
more unsteady than my feet. I live like a dog and shall die l.ke a dog. 

Rob. There's my last iialf-ciown, Silas, ij/ivcs money) But the captain's 
promised me an advance on my snlary to-moirow. 

SiL. {who has clutched the holf-crowi). The captain ! What do you 
mean? I di<hft {hu) know iheie was a captain ot h)cksmilhs. 

Rob. {I'tughs). Locksmith ! 1 screwed tlie l.ist lock I ever intend to make, 
on H door, a couple of liouis ago. After tu-day I belong lo i!ie British 
army ! {putting his arm tound a girl^s tvaisf.) 

He-enter Recuuits and SoldiebS; l. 

Leul the way, sergeant! We're going round the town for a spurt. 
^Ve've light hearts, and {slapping trousets) empty i)ocket» ! 

The Drummer a^id Fifer who are now very drunk and unsteady, lead the 
way; Watti.es, Robert, and all the rest, except. Polly and Silas, go 
off singing " The British Grcjiadiers.^' Polly re-enters tavern, closing 
door i/i SiL\s\f ace. S>.l\s comes down stage ivith an utter change of 
manner — steady as a rock, and ivith a face of fox-like cruelty and cun^ 
ning. Xight has been sloicly drawing on. 

SiL. {tosiing coin in his hand). What's half a crown to a man who has 
shaken a dice-box and cut caids with lords? Who has ridden in Rotten 
Row, and in the Bois de BouIoLnie, dined at the Loixlon Clubs, and 
swallowed ices at Turloni' - % 1 's something though, lo a hunted and 
hniiiiry devil just esca|)ed from the heil of a French ]>ri.son lo sufF r 
Moise punishment — poverty in England. Poverty in Eng and ! ugh ! I 
know no deeper hell tiian that ! {<is he is about to pocket Imlf-crown, Mar- 
garet Armitage poorly and thndy did in ividotc^s weeds, enters L. C. , 
hnrrtedly and ^/iboring vn-ter strong nervous ixciUmint. It is now night.) 

MargakkT (aside, as citching the last icord). Who spoke of poverty ? 
Suiely he who sp.'aks of that should feel for mo ! {as urged by a desperate 
impulse, she lays her hand upon Silas' arm) Sir ! oh, sir! 

SiL. {starling back). Who are you? what do you want 'J 



ACT I. 11 

Mar. a poor widow, sir, withou', brend, find without a 1 alfpenny t<» 

purclia.sp any, ihrough the life of my child {^he s'ops, and her vouc 

hrenks inio <t i-oh.) 

SiL. Voiu- child! 0!i! you've a cliild tlien ? h's ,in old stor}- — hut I 
like to have it couipleie. A baby, 1 i>ui)p()se ; ''■ a lilile fair-haiied, blue- 
eyed i',.;n<r, " liicy'ie always fair-haired and blue-eyed, Llie cliiidreu of 
the poor ! 

Mau. a girl, six years old, and — starving ! 

SiL {with a course Iniigl,). Sxxeaisold! Why doesn't she work ? 

Mar. Work! she is dviu^ witli Lunger! and the fever that {lay' 

ing htr hand on his decve.) 

SiL. {shnking her ronqhhj off). Fever! Toucli me again and I'll give 
you iu ciiarge. {aside as he ex iis) Fever! Lite's worh scmeihing thou'jh 
one lias i-nly a iialt-crowu's lease ot it. {n/ters tuverv, l., slammivg door 
beliiiid him ) 

Mar. {endeavoring to folhixv him). Oh. sir ! in mercy I not for me— but 
for her! {raising her land uiih a gesture of det-patr os the tavirn door 
avciiufs to) My cliilll my chill! Heaven ^ive me stietigth to crawl 
honij ai.d d.e beside her! li's ;dl I dare pray for now ! {^h^ngoin totters 
afe r p"ces. supporting he-se'f by w^dL then sin As with a low cry on seat by 
tablfi. Robert Arnoi-d is hfm-d singing off l.) 

Robert ( nlvnnj g nj y, mid sightly exhdurted by drinh). 

Now faie-thee-we I. my own true love! 

A loim farewell from m*, 
1 i.'o to fiiiliL my coi n ly's foes — 

F.ir, far be\ond ihe bea ! 

My own true love! {he Intighs) It wouldn't be easy to give lier a name! 
n«)t that I'm blind to ihe aitra<ti()ns 4 f ih^ sex. Jjless it! but it's the 
difficul y of .selection that has been n)y s. fe-j.ua d. The candidates are 
all so beauiifid! {going to t'lveni) Now to feicii my basket of tools — I've 

promi>ed liiem to a shopmale as a lej^acy if {while he is spmking 

Margaret h'S hdf onsen, but sinks d<,wn lujnin iv'ih a gro> n) lidloh! 
wh.it was ihatl {turning and seeing Margaret in the shadim-, rs she is 
ogam striving to rise) A wi'.uian ! {raises her a- little) Whai's th mal ter ? 
are you iil 1 Lean on me! I'm not quite so sie;idy as 1 shoull I.e. but 
lean on me. 'lliere! so, all risht i ow ! we'ie firm as a rock! as a 
couple o^ rocks ! {he has supported her towards door, recognizes her) Mrs. 
Armitage ! 

Mar. {faintly\ Robert Arnold ! 

Rob. What's the matter ] you are crying ! What do you want 1 

Mar. Bread! 

Rob. Bread "? 

Mar. Not fa- myself, ^ut for Alice — bn-ad for my cl.i'd ! 

Rob. Bread! biead I oh ! buMe, beast thut 1 w;is. lodii n<i in the .snmo 
houi:e, yet never lo have guessed it! 1 ki ew that you were poor, very 
poor ! but I never knew it had come to this pass-i.ever " 

Mar. Help uie, R' beit, Alite is siatviniz ! 

Rob. {now thoroughly sobered). And 1 without a penny — my last money 
gone to tliat id e, skidiiing, neVr-(lo-well Silas Jar reit. {feeling hastily m 
porkets) Not a penny ! not one ! not one! 

Mau. {very faintly) Take me home! only t;ike me home! oh! 
Robert, I mn>t s e juy cliild before I die ! 

Rop. {with forced g'lyety). Die! nonsense! don't talk like that ; we are 
clo.»e to the door of your house ! You go up-stairs to Al ce, and — and 
console her till I come. Oii ! never fear but I'll come ! I've no money. 



12 NOT GUILTY. 

but I've friends, heips of friends, crowds of friends! oceans of friends ! 
{speiikm^ nude as he leads her of. c ) Bni how to find one at tliis time of 
iiiwlit, I do.i't know ! (j/a->/ii/ as her head droops on his shoulder') Tell Alice, 
dear little Alice ! that Robert w^m't be five njinutes ! she shall have 
bread, bread and meat, and j) enu- of ii ! plenty, pleiity of iL ! {aside, 
with a gasp as overcnmmQ his einotion) Daiiihie ! if I havo 10 go down 
on my knees and be^^ for it ia ilie street- she shad have it ! 

[I'he)/ exeaut, Robeut half cany if ig Margauet. 

As they disappear, Silas Jahrett re-cppears from tavern. 

Silas {iv'ping mouth). That beisar woman's sone, I see! She gave 
me quite a turn — first by laying her liaiid so suddenly on my arm, and 
then by talking about fever. Since I esc ii)ed from that cursed prison 
I'm nervous at ray own shadow. There's, ali ! India's tlie place for me ! 
where a horseUeeper may become a princ*. or at least a prince's prime 
minister, if lie his iiis wits about him. {he shivers and dratvs his ragged 
coU about him) Not like in this foggy climate, where at every step you're 
askdd for a crtificate of chir;icLor. I'd work mv passago anywhere so 
I could get out of Lliis pi ice, but with every ship it's the same result — 
one glance at these rags, and " kick hiai overboard," roars the captain. 
{'le kicks out hit l^g as he siys t'li^, on I strikes his foot against the basket of 
toils, which lloBEUT his pliceil by seat at table) What's this? a basket 
{taking it up) of tools ! locksmith's tools ! It must be Arnold's ! a ham- 
mer, a file, a screwdriver, ])incers, and keys, and no end of keys, and a 
banc') of skeletons ! {holding up skeleton keys, with a chuckling laugh) I 
should know their utility — ihe crooked lii tie darlings ! each one looks 
like a note of interrogation! an '' iiiquiie within " ihai's sure to be pro- 
fitably answered, hi, ha! I always welcome old friends! Somebody's 
coming! more passeniers for the Madras boat ! I'll place t!iese tools 
in a safe place, {laughs) Where their owner won't find tliem in a hurry. 

Slinks off at back, keeping in the shadow, as Mr. St. Clair and Trumble enter 
B. c. — St. Clair is dressed as for a voyage, he carries a small valise. 

Trumble. But, my dear sir, my very dear sir, as a man, I may ap- 
prove your motive ; but as a lawyer 

Clair {laughing, and placing his hand on Tkumble's shoulder). My 
dear Trumble, sink tiu^ lawyer in the man ! 

Trum. Impossible! do tliat, and what becomes of the law couvt-il 
Whit you propose, Mr. St. Clair, is to sacrifice at least one-third of your 
fortune. 

Clair. The whole business is one of simple justic?. My uncle's 
death has left me raaster of an ample fortune — a portion of which is 
gained from an estate in India to which our family has no right in 
equity. 

Trum. But in law ? your uncle gnined the cause 

Clair. Unjustly, as I'm most rt hicuantly com{)elled to believe. It's 
then for me, as my uncle's inheritor, to make restitution to Mr. Armi- 
tage. 

Trum. He died ia India 

Clair. Very poor! leaving a widow, as I understand, and a daughter 
in England. My voyage to Madras i^, as you -know, to attend the bed- 
side of my sick mother. Spare no piins in my absence to trace out the 
surviving members of the Armitaue fimily. The re-assignment you al- 
ready have, and this caso, which I have just received from my agent, 
contains a sjim suflS-jieut to meet their possible necessities till my re- 
luro. 



A.CT I. 



13 



Trdm. Will you come up into the office while I write out an acknow- 
ledgment ? 

Claik. Ill wait for you here. We won't say good-bye till the last 
bell rings. 

Silas Jarrett, ivho has again apjjcared at back just as St. Clair jjasscs the 
leather note-case to Trumble, starts as he hears the latter mention the 
money it contains — he creeps nearer, Jceepmg within the shadow of tvall, 
then crouches down close to ground, the head raised, the neck outstretched, 
listening. 

Trum. {with hearty burst cf emotion). You', e a good fellow, St. Clair, 
and were there many Lke you, youd be the ruin of our prufes.>ion, that's 
all I know. 

He crosses over to Jiouse, opens door with latch-key, enters, and closes it behind 
him. St. Clair, dawn stage, lights cigar. Silas Jarrett, ivho al- 
most seems to have changed his body as well as his manner, creeps down the 
stage with all the lithe quickness and silence of the snake, till he commands 
a vieiv of the first floor toindoiv, through which Trumble is seen to enter 
room ivith light. He opens bureau, closes it, re-locks it, and then disap- 
pears, Silas, ivho has gradually raised himself first to his knees, then to 
his feet, retreats again into shadow, and glides off, rapidly, with a gesture 
of triumjjh, as St. Clair, turning, goes slotvly up stage. 

Clair. Jolly old boy, Trumble ! With a rough outside, he's full of 
the milk of human kindness. 

Enter Robert Arnold, in great agitation, hastily, r. 

Robert. I beg your pardon, but ju-^t one word, if you please, [he 
makes a movement as to place his hand on St. Clair's arm, the latter draws 
back ) 

Claiu. AVho are you, fellow ? 

Ri)B. Oh ! don't be afraid, sir ! There's nothing wrong about me. 
My name's Arnold — Robert Arnold, locksmith — leastways, I was a lock- 
smith a few hours ago, but 1 .-ball bs a soldier when 

Clair (impatiently). What's all this to me ? What do you wanf? 

Rob. (abruptly). Charity! 

Clair (stepping still further back). A beggar ! 

Rob. (drawing himself up with a momentary pride which he suppresses). I ! 
a beggar ! Well, 1 suppose I'm something of the kind — though, heaven 
be thanked, I've never had need to ask help of anybody for myself, and 
if I hadn't been scattering my money all day like a fool, I shouldn't 
now be begging for another. 

Clair. What other? 

Rob. a poor woman, sir, starving 1 and her chihl, too! An angel of 
six years old! Dying! dying! sir! for want of that which a few 
pence could purch se! 

Clair Can this be true % 

Rob. True I I left her but just now, praying her to take heart and 
wait for my return ; I rushed off to my employer, woke him up by 
throwiiicr a stone through his window, and asUe 1 him for a loan, but the 
granite-heaned old hunks, knowing th .t 1 leave Souihnmptun at day- 
break, cursed me for a drunken rogue — me ! Robert Arnold ! and slam- 
med down his window — I tried elsewhere with like success. Don't go, 
sir, don't go. Beggar ! (snatching off cap, and holding it out) Yes, sir, I 



14 NOT GUILTY. 

am begoina ! and when I think of lier and her child's suffering, I'm not 
ashamed of it! 

Claik {hesitating). But 

lioR. Biin<^ it home lo j-ourself, sir ;" suppose that you had a child, or 
a niiither 

Claiu {u-ith emotion nnd spenkivg hnstihj as the door of Trumble's 
house IS heard lo opev, and Tkumble lom s out). Husli I take this ! (giving 
a crawpled paper) 1 have a moLlier — a sick nioliier. Let those whom 
til is m. ney i el. eves, pray that s e may live to look once more upon the 
face of her son, {aside, as he crosses to Trumble) Not a \v< rd of this to 
Ti ninble, or he 11 lecture me again, {he takes Tkumble's arm, and they 
exeunt hurriedly.) 

Rob. {ivho has unfolded pajyr). A five pound note ! C''"^* <^ caper) 
There'll be more than onejoytul heart to-night in Southampton, {cutting 
another caper) I'll buy Alice a doll ! 

As he runs off, r., Sila.s Jarrett creeps on u-ith a rapid crouching step, lie 
carries, hugged up, half concealed by his rags, Robert's basket of tools; 
hi' opens door with a skeleton key, enters stealthily, closing it again silently, 
is seen to open bureau, with the skeleton kei/s from Robert's bag, and to 
take out papers, he closes the bureau, leaves the room. 

The Scene changes to 

SCENE II. — Interior of a Garret, miserably furnished. 

Enter Margaret, u-ith candle and Jug of water, door, k. 

Maugauet ('» accents of terror, leaning ovrr child). Alicp, Alice! my 
own darling ! My dear, dear lit'le girl ! speak to me ! only lo; k at me ! 
Ah! {u-ith a cry) not a word, not a glance! {starting to h(r ftet) She is 
dying ! And yet Robert Arno d told me to wait and hope ! Oii, what shall 
I do ? whit SI all 1 do ? Not a bieath, not a movement ! Tears ai d kisses, 
all — all aie alike useless ! {her tone chatigrs to one of strong bitivrness) And 
why should 1 wish to call iier back 1 Why should life exist, when hope is 
dead? Enonoh of suffMin2 ! I cannot fight the battle of life }i|. ne ! 
{she foils across bed frintnig, as Alice, raising herself slightly, speaks m a 
faint voice.) 

Alice. Mamma, mamma ! {frightened, and placing her hand on Marga- 
ret's head) Oh, my dear innnnna! 

Mar. {with a cry rises to her feet, and looking vaguely round, takes seve- 
ral s'eps as one in a dream). Yes, dear ! i cannot see you, but I hear 
your voice. Alice ! 

She makes a step or two fonvard from the bed, then, with another loiv, moan- 
ing cry, falls on face, there is a momentary stillness, folloucd by a loud 
knocking at door, and Robert Arnold calls from outside, k, 

Robert, Open the door, open the door, Mrs. Armitagel it is I — I, 
Robert Arnold ! I bring you help ! What was that cry — that noise ? 
Open, or 

The door is burst open, and Robert enters precipitately on scene, carrying a 
basket of provisions, which he places on the table, then recoils aghast as he 
sees Margaret stretched on the ground — betiding over her. 

Ah, miserable woman ! what have you done 1 She's only faiuled, thank 
lieaven ! 



ACT r. 15 

Mar. (repulsing him). Not me — not me — my child is dead. It is I 
who liave killed her — I have killed my child ! 

Rob. {rushing to bed, and taking Alice in his anm). No, no — she still 
breathes ! It is this stiffling atmosphere that is killing her ! 

Mar. There is more air in the next room. Carry her there ! quick ! 
quick I 

Rob. Heaven be praised— we shall save her yet ! 

[They exeunt, l., into the inner garret. 

As they do so, a confusion of voices is h-eard in the street below — '' Stop thief! 
stop thief! " etc., etc., and Silas Jarrett, panting and out of breath, 
dishes into the room, r., the bunch of skeleton keys still in his hand, and 
the leather case, which he holds, tight to his breast. 

SiL. The door below bein<T open, I took the l.berty of enterinir with- 
out knockinir. Where am 1 1 (Silas, t^/w has approached the half-glnzed 
ioor. "L., recoils) Robert Arnold! {he re-crosses stage to door, but agiin 
recoi's, as voices are heard, and confusion, as of several persons ascending 
stairs.) 

Voices. It was this house! I saw him enter ! Keep the door fast 
below ! 

Sil. They're mounting the stiircase — ah, the chimney! In a minute 
I'm on the roof, but fii-si, of all I return, with many thanks, your bunch 
of keys, M-. Robeit Arnold — {throwing them down on table) and with them 
this pocket-book, {while spenking he his taken out the contents and crammed 
the notes and papers %nto his pockets) If I c in but s^t down to the Docks 
before the boat starts, I liave once more my foot upon the ladder of 
fortune, [throws porket-bonk o)i the floor) I leave you a ten-pouui note. It's 
a parting gift, honest R )b -rt, biiL I doubt if you'll thrive with it. {disap- 
pears with a I'lugh behind the counterpane wJiieh conceals fireplace. As it 
drops behind him, S'Veral persons, wit'i Trumble and two Policemex, enter 
room hastily, r. door. O.ie of the Policemen carries Robert's basket of 
tooh.) 

Trdm. {to Policeman). You're sure the man entered this house 1 
P'irst Police. Quite ! 
Trum. You di In'L see his fico ? 

First Por,. No, he rush^^il by me with his head down as I opened the 
d.) M- of the office. 1 would i:av^ caught him, but I tumbled over this 
basket whic'i he had left in his haste. 

Trum. {taking it). A basket of workman's tools ! 

Rob. {entering from room, l.). Workman's tools — they are mine! {gen- 
eral movement.) 
AiiL. Yours! 

Rob. AVno brought them here 1 and what's the meaning of all thi-i ? 
First Pol. {taking some things from table and holding them up triumph- 
antly). A bunch ofskeleion keys 
R^b. They're mine, also, 

Trum. Tne same, I've no doubt, that were used to force my bureau. 
Hob. {turning shtrp'y ?tp)i him). What's that 7 What the devil do 

you mean ? {looking angrily arounl) D) any of you dire to suspect 

A Max {who looks a working bik",r. pushing forward), S op a moment — 
I can settle all t'lis : Th it's t .e man who a few minutes ago rushed into 
my shop is I was just pult'ui up the shutters and wanted to change a 
fivi^-pou id note to buy a quartern loaf! 

Tru.m {to Robert) Wliere did you steal that note from ? 
Rob Ste.il "? It was given to me in the street to save this poor woman 
Q,nJ hOi" child, {pointing to MargarhTj who, entering from the inner gar- 



16 NOT GUILTY. 

ret, L., stands petrified by the scene before, her, the two Policemen having 
qidetltj moved, one on each side of Robert.) 

Mar. Jt is true, qentlemen ; it is true. 

First Pol. {picking up leather case from floor). Whose is this letter 
case ? 

Rob. {indignantly). How should I know 1 

Trum. It's mine — ilie one just taken from my bureau, {opening it) It 
still contains a i.oie marked on the back " Edward Su Clair." 

Baker. Tliat was the name on the back of that note he offered me. 

Trum. {to Robert). What have j'ou done with the rest of the money % 

Rob. (aghast) Done ! {quite beioildered) I dont know what you mean. 

Trdm [to Policemen). I charge that man with theft! 

Rob. Me! 

Mar. R ibert Arnold ! Robert Arnold is incapable of such an act 

Trum. Let liiui explain liow this letter case, containinj; money and 
papers, which lias jusL been stojpn from my office, came into his hands? 
one of the notes it contained having already beeii offered for change by 
him ! 

Mar. By him ! 

Trum. But a few minutes ago, and let liim also explain how his basket 
of tools came to be by my broken bureau 1 

First Pol. Minus this bunch of skeletons which I found on the table 
here 1 {one of the Policemen slips handcuffs on Robert, while the other 
places his hand on his shoulder.) 

Rob. I am not uuilty ! not guilty, on my word ! (Margaret utters a 
cry of horror — Tableau, and closed in.) 

SCENE III. — A portion of the Southampton Docks. Steamer bell ringing. 

Triggs enters greatly excited, l. lie has a bunch of ribbons fastened to his 
tall napless hat. 

Triggs {sings). " Solomon Lobb he lost his nob, 

And all for love and glory." {stops abruptly.) 
I've done it ! I've been and gone and done it ! I've taken the shilling — 
the fatal shilling ! and Polly and I sail in the s-ame ship, and we'll have 
our game of pitch and toss together ! I couldn't s'and the idea of that 
nabob, and the India rubber accessories, {bell ceases— stopping 'Pouteh, 
who enters, L.. with portmanteau on shoulder) WhaVs that bell? 

Porter. The Madras boat just started. 

Triggs. What's the Madras boat to do with me? I belong to the 
troop sijip— you may possibly have perceived a military air about me 1 

PoR. Well, you look like a sort o' Johnny Raw ; but clear the way, 
please, here's more luggage coming, {exit r., as more Porters come o>i l. 
— Triggs stops their trucks, and tnsista, fusstly, on reading the addresses.) 

Triggs Now, my good men, my good men ! you may possibly Us un- 
aware that I form part of the British army — respect the defenders of 

your country, respect the {reads address) " Mrs. Turmeric," Mrs. 

Turmeric mavpiss. Captain O.mond Willoughby — ah! we belong to 
the same reginiput — fellow s-ddiers, fellow soldiers. Ah ! this is what I 
want» Mrs. McTavish ! here we have it. ' Miss Dobbs," Miss Mary 
Dobbs, one trunk and four band-boxes — quite correct ! {after making a 
memorandum) My liiggaije. {placing a very small Irown paper parcel with 
much solemnity on top of luggage) My luizgage, it goes with hers, {turning 
to side as Porters, highly irritated, wheel off truck, R ) Here she comes ! 
wrapped up in me and other comforters ! 



ACT I. 17 

Polly enters, hurrieoUy, l., enveloped in doak and many mufflers, as for a voy- 
age — she tripps across stage, but pauses in c , without seeing Trigg s. 

Polly. I've been looking everywhere for Joe Triggs, I thought at 
least he would have seen me down to tlie boat. Poor Joe ! 1 never 
knew I liked him so much till now I'm about to leave him — nh ! {screams 
OS Triggs, ^vlto comes down stage, throws his arms about her) You've giveu 
me qiiiie a turn ! 

Triggs. In the right direction, I hope. Having issued an attachment, 
I take the body! 

Polly {bridling). You'll take yourself off, Mr. Triggs, such conduct 
at parting, loo ! 

Triggs. Paiiing ! {shows ribbons on hat) Permit me to call your atten- 
tion to this — the last new article in ribbons. 

Polly {with a little scream). VVhy, Joe, you don't mean to say you've 
'listed '\ 

Triggs {sings). '• My boat is on the shore, and my bark is on the sea." 
And I sail fiom Albion's shore, witii thee. Miss Dobbs, with thee! I 
couldn't stand th;it idea nbout the nabob. Wattles tossed up the shil- 
ling, and woman \v.)n ! Don't speak ! I know what I have sacrificed — I 
might have i-een Lord Chancellor, but I gave Trumble ihesack in prefer- 
ence to silting upon it myself. 

Polly. Mr. Trumble! oh ! haven't you heard the news, Joe^ 
Triggs. What news ? 

Polly. Robert Arnold has been taken up for robbing the office ! Mr. 
Trumble's office ! 

Triggs. Robert Arnold ! Oh, come now, that won't do 1 

PoLLV. The money's been found upon him, and 

TuiGGS. 1 doh't believe it ! I won't believe it ! {he walks about stage, 
pounding hat which he has taken off, till it is entirely out of shape) Why I'd 
ml her suspect myse f! 

Polly. And so would I — much rnther ! 

Triggs. Il's a plot of some kind, or a case of mistaken idpntity. It's 
anything — everything, but the one thiig, and that's the truth ! Polly, 
dear! a man doesn't rub ^llOul(lers with the law as I've done for tit'teeii 
years, and not know the signs of a thief wi en he meets hira. The first ihinir 
is to engiige counsel ; I know one, wiih a face like a warmii g-| an, and 
lungs like a blacksmith's b. l!ows. Il's more difficuh, of course, when a 
chap's innocent, because he's not up to the tiling, but We'll pull him 
through — we'll pull him through ! 
Polly. You're a go^d lel.ow, Jot'. Mind, we sail in an hour. 

{Exit, R. 
Triggs. In an hour ! And Robert Arnold? What's to become of 
him "X No notion of the law of evidence — a mere child— couldn't 
p'-ove an alibi if he tried ! and quite unawaie, in a lenal );oint of view, 

of ihe p(jwer of lun^s and brass, but I'll sift, the case, IT {moving to 

side he encniintern SiiiiGBANT Wattlfs. stff and t-iern, wvh several Sol- 
diers and Recuuits froin L ) Ah ! my dear Wattles! 
Wat. [anth crushing dignity). Your what ? 

TiUG. Wattles, I've a lavor lo ask of you; could we arrange it, that I 
come out, by the i ext boat 1 

Wat. {in'a voice of thunder). Fall in, sir, or we shall fall out ! 
Tuio. Haven't you got a heart, sergeant ? 
Wat. Yes, of oak. 

Trig. But that's ro reason your liead. should be made of the same 
material ; I want to do a friend a service. 
Wat. Your services belong to the Queen. 



18 NOT GUILT"i. 

Trig. 0( course they do; but I know her, bless her, she's a kind, 
jrood-heai ted lady, and will siretch a point — besides, she'll have her 
shilling's worth out, of me before long, having taken the money I shall 
not shirk the liability. I've a cliniac'er to lose, sergeant. 

Wat. Then lake my advice, and lose it at once. 

TuiG. You W'jr.lrln't advisp ihai, if yen knew the trouble I've had to 
get it togellier. You know Robert Arnold ? 

Wat. I ki ow jio liing but the c.4)tain's orders. Private friendships 
must give way to p.ibic duty. 

Tui5. But Robert Arnold 

Wat. Leave him to li.e law. 

Trig, That's a pretty sty.e of baby-farming; you hiaven't spent fifteen 
years ill a lawyer's office. 

Wat. Recruits on board ! R "ht shoulder forward— march ] (Soldiers 
grdher about Triggs, cml he is hiisled off, R., vainlxj protestwff.) 

SCENE IV. — A 2)ortion of the deck and interior of a deeping cabin on board 
the " Begum,'" packetship to Madras. 

Silas {listening). All quiet ! Nothing but the pleasant lap of the water 
against the vessel's sides ! I've slipped down here to enjoy a glass in 
qiiii't. (rfrj«/.*) Champagne ! chainpague! {fills and laughn) What a wine! 
This is my seccd bottle, and 1 ('.eser»e it after my exertions {pushing 
9tp wig, find disconring face) How stfl'i'.g hot this cabin is, and tiie more 
I diiiik, th.^ niore it increases my thirst. {d>iuk^) Well, 1 can afford it— I 
can afior.i oceans of drink ! I can drink gold if I like, {looks stealthily 
tutv irds ladder at bick, then drrnvs out a packet of papers and notes^ which he 
turns over greedily an I hurrie<ly) A foiLiiiie ! a fortune! But what's this 
]>:iper ■? {ex imi'img it) '• E Iw.ird Sr,. Clair's assignment of estate in favor 
oi " — Bah ! better buin all this ! {he rises nnstendily, renches at lump, then 
fails b'ick in ehuir) D iinn — the lamp ! or rather tlie l.imps, for that con- 
ioundel s'ewa d mus', iiave liiihied another — win re's the bottle 1 
[clutching it nficr sivcrnl ineffectwd effort") Tlie ship seems s])innin<i round 
like a tee-iee-'ee— (///r) tee-to-tnm! A storm biewinfi, I suppose! Let 
it brew! I'm ricli enough to langh at storms of every kind ! {dr in let from 
botth) Glorious wine! I haven't tasted it for many a long day, but as 
the {hie) bird returns to its nest— bo I {hic) return to the bottle! {drinks) 
It's empty ! 

In replacing it on table, he knocks orcr glass which falls with a crash. In en- 
dcifvoring to save it he sweeps with his arms the notes and papers from 
trhlc. At s'ime time a jnle of cloaks is thrust aside, and St Clair rises 
from one of the sofas beenath tlie berths, with angry impatience. 

Clatr. Ililloh ! what are you making all this no'so about? {sle'pUg 
approaching ti.hle and yawn.ng) If you can't sleep yourself don't deprive 
me of that piivi ege, 

SiL (his grenl orercnmivg in port — but in part ordg — his intoxiention). 
Stand bick! don't C"U)e a steji !<o.ier! keep lack! 1 wnin you! {h'' 
throws h m.ttlf upon hia kufcx. ch'trhing up the scattered uotts and p-pers with 
the threu/en ng gnnp <f u wild enl ) 

Cl-Aii: (I'side). He's dtu k. {kiudy) Let me help you — I fell asleep 
botore 1 couhl undress and liei into my berth. I think I ought to thank 
you for waking me up. {utooping to pick up one of the nofe^) Do let mo 
he ]) you. 

SiL. (^crouching over owl grai-ping no'cs). K^ej) back — keep back- -they 
belong to me ! If you touch iheiu I'll call for help— I wi.I ! 1 will ! 



ACT I. 19 

Clair {loughivg). Oil, as you plea«;e; I don't wisli to rob yon. 
SiL. {on /its knees, ivith a stnrt). Rob! wIiaL do yuii mean by that? 
{rising to his feci) Who spoke ol lolibery 1 

Clair [sume pleasnut tone). N'lL I. There, don't exc le vonrself. 
Here are some of your noies. and — {'ibont to h"nd jj"per. he glnnccs at it, 
and starts) My .'•i'liialure ! {stippmg b"ch ns the other ndviners, ond plncivg 
paper under lamp, h-tlding Silas b-icks<nue ttme at < rm^sloHji/i) Tlie ;l^si<ill- 
me:it 1 save to Triimble! How cani>' y.)U by ihis ? 

SiL. It's mine ! i:'sniine! 

Clair {casting him off as he cndenvors t) gr"sp p"per). Tliat remains to 
be proved! {snatching up note from table Ai.d iliis note eiKhnsed by 
me ! It's for you lo stand b.»ck, rascal ! {fliro ring linn off as he ma'ccs a 
cat-like clutch at note.) 

SiL. {Iionsely, and mod with excitement). My nion y ! {he snatches up 
knife from table, but St. Clair, drawing a pistol from pocket, staps him as 
he crouches to .'■pring ) 

Clair {covers hi mu-ith pistol, and extending the othrr hand, speaks icith 
intense calmmss). Give me the n maii.der of those notos. 

SiL. {aghast). \S\\o are you*? 

Clair. Edward St. Ch.ir ! This paper bears roy signature, and these 
tu'tes are mine ! 

Sil. Give them back 1 Never! 

Clair {the same cdm determination). Then I summon tiie captain to 
judije between us. 

Sil. {as struck by a suddin thought). Two can play rt that game. Help 
— help! murder! thieves! 

Clair. Rascal ! {he seizes him and thrusts him backovn- tiihle,from tchich 
the bottles roll to floor. In the struggle Silas's wig uiid beard come off) Ha ! 

Sil. (half choking). Help I murder! 

During the strvgglc Sailors cqypear on deck, descend ladder, and enter cabin 
confusedly. They precipitate therr.selves on St. Clair, drag him back, 
and wrest the pistol from his hand. Taking advaniccge of his release, 
Silas, with the agility of a cat, springs up tbe ladder and appears on deck, 
as the Captain of tlie steaater approaiJies St. Clair. 

Captain. What does a'l this mean 1 

Clair {shaking himself loose from the Sailors' grasp, and pointing to wig 
and beard on table). 1 1 means that you have seized ti.e wrt/iig man, and 
are letting the thief escape ! 

Followed hy the Sailors, he makes a rush to the ladder, but recoils as the cry 
of " Man pverboard ! man overboard ! " resounds through the ship ; 
Silas having sprung up on the bulwarks, as the Man at the Wheel. 
and others make a rush at him, stands for a moment, his figure illumina- 
ted by the moonlight ; then, as their arms are stretched out to grasp him, 
ivith a laugh of defiance, takes a ^^ header ^^ into the S'-a. Act closes on 
tableau, Sailors unslinging boat, etc., etc., with effective groupings above 
and below deck, 

CURTAIN. 



20 l^OT GUILTY. 

ACT 11. 

SCENE. — The Quarries at Dartmoor. 

Snter Jack Snipe, with Two Convicts, r., also in ^^ good conduct ^^ dress, 
stops hi his tcork, looks round to he sure that no ivardcr is listening, then 
comes down the stage. Several Convicts, ^cho have also stopped icork, 
follow his example. At rising of curtain, the Convicts are all at work, 
some ichccling harrous from hack and off, l. 

Jack {os Convicts group about him). How did I get the nameof Jack- 
in-llie-Biix] H'iiiiiorainuses ! consult the liauuals of your country. Ah! 
it was a caper ! {sings.) 

WhPH first I did stirt, with my eye on some mart, 

Not caiiiio: for bruises or knocks, 
Like a nimble youni; boy, I jumped with much joy, 

As 1 hit on my plan of the box. 

I'd a caution on lop to " krep this side up," 

Addressoil to the Liverpool Docks, 
And Llie Company's man, not knowina my plan, 

Would foiwaid me pack'd in my box. (all laugh.) 

When hinded on shore and put into store, 

I'd creep round il e i)l..ce in niv socks ; 
If I found the coast cl' sir and had noliiing lo fear, 

What swag 1 cramm'd inio that box. 

At last I was sold, like many of old, 

By one 1 had helped in distress. 
I was taken and tried, and t^»e judge did decide 

For five years 1 should wear this gray dress. 

{all Join in chorus.) 

For five years he should wear this gray dress. 

Enter Silas Jarrett, from hack, tcearing a wardcr^s dress, appearing up 
among rocks. 

SiL. Skulking work, you rascals! If I hear that noise r. gain I'll re- 
port every one of you. 

Jack {in a hurried whi-ope?). It's the new warder! he is a Tartar! 
{fheg disperse nnd resume uvrk as before — Jack tcorks by R. 1 wing.) 

SiL Is tiiat you, J ick Snipe 1 

Jack. I wish it \Narn'; ! 'Appy and proud to make the situation over 
to s()niel)0(ly else. 

SiL. How dare -^vw answer me ? 

Jack (ivih mock surprsi) You! I'm blps-spd if I knowed yon afore! 
(/'ikes off c'p vifh iroinc-d liumilit-j) Vou're ll;e h<-niperor of all the 
Roosiiias, VfU are ! When niyresptct for myself becomes flabby, I'll 
come to you for starch. 

SiL. Get to your work — and that other skulker there No 47 ! {pointing 
to Robert Ahxold, l , icho, at the sound of his voice, h'ls staggered to his 
feet, but tviihout turning towards him) I'll soon have him stripped of his 



ACT II. 21 

good conduct dress and put on the chain gang, if I see more of liis idling. 

[Exit at back, R. 

Jack {'ooJcing after him as he exits). You're a cock as knows 1)0W to 
crow, you do! You ain't been heie more than a week, but j-ou've made 
3'ourself already a marked man among us — one as will have his ccmb 
cut afore -lung, {yets to ivork at c of stage — ivatchi^ig 'Ro'R'er't Arnold, 
ivho has re-commenced work, but after a few strokes of the pick, pauses utterly 
exhaiiftled) Hi.loh ! No. 47 is a-workiii' up for the sick dodge — not a 
bad do 1 lie neither ! {the pwk drops from Robert's hand and he supports 
himself against a piece <f rock. Jack Snipe, a little up stage, tvatchtng 
him.) 

Rob. I can bear Ibis fate no lon^ei-. Strength, hope, patience, every 
thing has deserted me — everything but despair. What dreary months 
have piss'd sitiC3 tliat terrible condemnation, and yet the crowded 
court is always before my eyes, and the stern voice of the judge 
sounding in my ears ! Merciful Heaven ! what a fate foran innocent man ! 
The very e lucation my dear mother impoverished herself to give me, 
that I might make my way in tii > wo'ld, only increases the 8ense of de- 
gradation. To be condemned to seven years' companionship with men 
Avhose vei-y aspect m ikes me tremble, better death in any form, so that 
it be swift and sure, {his head droops upon his breast, but he raises it quickly 
as Jack Snipe creeps up and ships him on the shoulder.) 

Jack. Cheer up, 47 ! 1 never see a chap take on as you do. When 
things can t be mended, grin and bear 'em, that's the motter of yourn to 
command, Jack Snipe. 

Rob. But 1 was innocent ! 

Jack {wi/h cheerful briskness). Of course you is ! There's not a chap 
ill this 'ere deliuhiful com-munity as doesn't say the same, on'y he's 
speikins h\s conviction. 

Rob. I swear to you 

Jack {stopping him and looking hastily round). Don't! that is, don't do 
it in that solemn manner. Some o' these fellers might take it into their 
lieads to bel eve you. 

Rob. Well ! 

Jack. And you'd loi-e their respect, that's all ! 

Rob {turning away with a gesture of despair). Into what anab3'ss have 
I f.dlen ! 

Jack {aside, with rapid change of manner). He's a-cryin'I {again look- 
ing round cautiously, he comes cose to Robrrt, and touches him on the arm) 
1 say, stow thiit ! If I've said anyiliing as cuts ag'.n the grain, I'm sorry 
for it. {very kindly) Oil ! never mind me I sive 'em vent! I've paid the 
water r^tes loo otten myself to cut 'em off Irom anybody else, besides, 
I've taken a Iking to you. No. 47, you're so like a bi other of mine. 

Rob. Indeed ! 

Jack {quickly). He wasn't one o' my sort, mind yer, but a soldier as 
died out in ilie Injies ; had he lived, p'raps I shouldn't bo here — I wasn't 
born a thief. 

Rob. No man is 

Jack. No, but he's bnrn with a happetite, and some are born with 
big 'uiis. without any means of satisfyin' 'em. It's all very well for peo- 
])le to talk about tlie'ead and the 'art, but tiie stummick, the stummick's 
tlip wulnerable part of man's anatomy. 

Rob. {crelcssbj). So your brother's deatli made you a thief 7 

Jack. He died a-fighlin' the battles of his country, and his wife, who'd 
followed him ha'f lound this \\ov\<\ when he was alive, thought it her 
dooty, poor thing ! to lollow him into t'other, and there was a Ittle kid 
left for me to punvitle lor. 



'2'2 I^OT GUILIY, 

Rob. a l:eavy responsibility ! 

Jack. It were, liless its 'art ! it tons a baby ! Give it an (tj'ster shell 
or an old stocking to suck, and it 'iid be liappy for hours. It nestled in 
my ninis the lust time it saw \ue, aiid if I hjidii't lain upon it now and 
then aifidenaily, 1 doirt think it wouUl liave ciied mucli ! 
Rob. Sure y ycui luiulit have Mipp.)rie<l it h<>iie>tly ? 
Jack {wi/h sxidden fiiiaui/^s). 1 woik^d day and niiiht, but it wasn't no 
rrood, 'iwasii'i ofien I c tt'd !ak»^ the I tile 'im's s;uminick by surprise, 
and astonish it with a lii;ini. T ade \\;s batl, and 1 got out of collar. 
'J'hcre's two roads — be right 'lui and the wrono 'mi. 'J'he light 'un liot 
shut U|), and the kid — (//«< voice (,r<iws husly <ind he wipes his eye") 'twasn't 
half ;.s high as i!iis j)ii k, uot ill — I took ili^^ \\ri.ii<; it. ad, ami the wronir 
road brou.:ht me here. (".« -/ ashamed of his emotion he turns envoy, and 
co.nmcfices ivorhiiig wiili his pick, sinying, ivith a i^ort of bravado) 
I'd a cauiion on top to keep this side up, 
Add;es ed to the Liverpool Dock. 
Rob. And ihe child 1 

Jacic {dnppv'fl pick, nnl turning toionrds him, his fy;s full of tears). 
Yoa won't clialf m •, No 47 ? But to see thut boy agam Id let 'em chop 
t leso two hands ofi! 

Rob. {very kindly). Poor feil< w ! 

Jack {speaking rapidly). I know the street? — know 'em well, mind ye ! 
And when 1 think of a bit of a bahy a-picking up its livin' like a house- 
less d<'2 in the gut ers, it's a w. nder I don't break out or do something 
disprU! It's the devil's cunning a<2in a child's i..nocence! You 
wouldn't oft'.-r odds on the chdd, No. 47, would you] 
Rob. I f'*el for you. 

Jack {recovering his brisk manner). Thnnk ye. Then kindness for 
kindness, dowerwg void) it's a fiieuU as gives you the office — be on 
your 2<iard, No 47 ! 
Rob. Ot wl ai ] 

Jack. 0. the new warder, him as was app'.ntrd Inst week — you two 
liav(> ni't, ;.fore ] 

Ri'B. We have — often,. Ho.v he comes here is another mystery Ican- 
n >t, so ve. 

Jack Well, there isn't ranch love lost atween yon ! Chut, here he 
coiups, and with that creepin' cr-'aiu-e v.s we calls the Polecat. I'd give 
somediiu' to know whai them two are couweisin' about. 

They both resume work as Silas Jarrett rc-appears at hack frmn r., accom- 
panied by the Polecat, a mean, cadaverous looking convict in " good con- 
duct " dress. 

Silas {in loic voice to the Polecat, as th'i ,'):nc doicn stage). You're 
quite sure of what yon say ? 

PoLR {in alow pip>ng voire, interrupted by coagh). Yes, yes, the plan 
of fS ape is all airai.ged — N >. 50, Jliat's old Isaac Vidler, you know him 
as we calis the '■ P.ilriaiCii," takes Llie lead ai.d gives the sional. The 
wai(h"S are to be (neipiwered. ami then each man m^kes a run for it. 

Jack (ii , striving to hear). What is i\\\i sneakin' cieatur' saying 1 

SiL. 1 his wi.l iiei you a free pardon {ngile, as he moves doivn stage) and 
me increased confidence. It was a great thought of mine to come her«\ 
When the wolves are on your track there's i.o jilace «f salety like the 
lion's den ! li's beiter to be tl e guardian of the cage, ihaii to be shut 
np in it one's self JIad I only secured the money and pai)ers before I 
leaped f.om the deck of that cursed boat, I might have put myself be- 
J^oud the possibility of pursuit. Now I have wtrk d my way here to 



ACT II. 23 

watch over my fiien 1 Robert Arnold — while he's in Enoland there's no 
real safety lor nie! Fear and hate {/le is glavcing furtively towards At^so-ld 
OS he speaks) are both powerful ar^enls, but wlieu combined ihey are irre- 
sistible ! 

TJie Polecat, ivho from nature is always sneaking about, comes face to face 
ivith Jack Snipe, unexpected by the latter, xoho is trying to listen — Jack 
immediately resumes tvork with superfluous energy. 

Jack, {hammering at slate and singing) 

Wlien Luided on shore and put into store 

I'd creep round the place in my socks ! ' 

Polecat (with quick movement back to Silas). We're watched ! [coughs 
OS usual behind his hand ) 

SiL. {angrily to Jack). How dare yon sing "? 'Tis against regulations ! 

Jack (r.). Is it 1 W(^ll if 1 don't conform to ihe rules of ihe estab- 
lishment, y«)U can dismiss me — 1 ain't attached to the sitivation. 

SiL. [to Arnold, who has paused in his work and turned towards them). 
I'll report y«»ii both [cro ses to l.) and you, too, No. 47. 

Rob. 1 hear, but refuse to exchange words with you. Silas Jarrett. 

SiL. [raising small cane he carries). Take care ! (Jack moves to c, and 
works so as to be nt the elboiv of 8ih\s for his next turn ) 

R 'B. {throiving aside pick, and folding arms). Of what— of you ? (SiLAS 
invers cane and draws back) I cant feir what f desj)isp. 

SiL. \lnighs, bat lowers cane). Tlie conieinpt of a felon. (Arnold turns 
nuny) When we la^t met in Southampton I didn't think to see you in 
\h^ iuteresiing costume, Robert. 

Jack [ivho h'ls again suUed up). WelH they d<in't ?eem the right sort of 
togs for hiuj, do they, guv'nor? while [glancing meaningly over Silas) to 
some I know L' ey'd com^ nat'ral — like their own skins, in fact. 

SiL. [turning upon him). What do you mean 1 

Jack. Noihiwg my means are limited! 

SiL Now 1 give yon fair warning. 

Jack. Wish yon would give me warning — I'd take it and go! {aside) 
Oil. Iif'.s ent)Ujh to niake a bed-posL savage ! 

Wardeu [who enters hastily, addressing SiLAs). Get your fellows 
together. Tiie governor is showing some visitors over the quarries. 

Silas gets back of Jack, who is at work — Jack throws a shovel full of dust 
over his back. Several other Warders e7iter, all armed; the Convicts, 
good and bad conduct men — all form oblique line from r. 1 e., double file, 
and pass by fiote to go off c. platform — Jack and Robert last — this must 
be timed as Robert gets close to Margaret at recognition — Arnold 
and Jack Snipe side by side. While this is going on, the Governor of 
the Prison descends by the road, R. u. E., conducting St. Clair, Marga- 
ret, Trumble and several other Visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen, to 
the prisoji. 

Gover. (c). These are the new workings, we have only lately been 
quarrying lier< — quite new groui.d, 

.Mar. (l., aside, and chngmg to St. Clair's arm, as some of the Con- 
victs, s:Allen and scowling, slouch p st and disappear, two and two, by middle 
road at back) Surely poor Robert Arnold cannot be among these men — 
not among these ! 

St. Clair (l c, also in aside). Restrain all emotion, I leg of you. 



24 NOT GUILTY. 

Remember I am here to save — my return from India had no other ob- 
ject ! but in these places all must be done by rule ! 

Trdm. (l., same tone). A litile patience — a little patience, that's all, my 
dear lady ! 

Mau. [ahuddcrinj mid drawing back). AVliat dreadful faces! And that 
fetter on the le^ ! 

As she speaks Arnold and Jacic Snipe, walking in double file across stage, 
pass before her. At the sound of her voice the former starts, and moved 
by sudden impulse, turns towards her. 

Arxoli). M:ir£arol ! 

Mau. Robert Arnold! (she is springing forward, but is stopped bg St. 
Clair, loho draiv^ hur b.tck loith a gesture of caution — Arnold passes up and 
off stage, as the Governor, ^c, gatlier about Margaret.) 

St. Clair (ivith a forced ynyttg). Tijis lady lias lately risen from a sick 
bed, an 1 this strange scene has tried her n -rves a little ! (^aside to Mar- 
garet) Pray be careful ! 

Mar. {snne tone as the Governor, and the party move up stige). I must 
speak to liim! 

Clair. Think of Alice, your daughter. 

Mar I do think of her, St. Clair, and remember she owes lier life to 
Robert ArnoM — I must speak to him ! 

They move up stage and off at bi.ck, as they do so, Silas and the Polecat 
come quickly on, L. 1 e. 

Silas (much excited). Say it a2ain — over aiiain ! This evening, you 
say 7 It can't be true — it's too good to b? true ! 

Pole. Everything's arranged t.) take place before the return call. 
Their plan is to overpower the guard, ami under cover of the moor fog, 
that's now rising, scitter and run. (coughs) A Dartmoor fog is sudden 
but convenient. 

SiL. (aside). Very convenient! (aloud) It's a mad attempt. 

Pole. If I hadn't given the office, not so mad as you think. The plans 
were laid long ago, and once they'd got the free run of the Moor, they'd 
be as hard to find as the fog itseif when the sun shines out in the morn- 
in'. 

SiL. {placing his h nid upon Polecat's shou'der). Go back to fhem, and 
when the attempt is m ide, take c ire that No. 47 is among the mutineers. 
Keep close to him — close as wax, and when the moment comes to act, 
give me a sianal that I miy know my man. 

Pole. What signal? 

SiL. Cough, and cough loudly. Now go, and don't lose sight of him 
for a moment. (Polecat exits, l. Silas looking after htm) I'll provide 
for you, too, my friend. You know too much for Silas Jarrett. (unslings 
the carbine and tries the double barrels with ramrod, laughs) The cat had 
need of nine lives, who pulls my chestnuts from the fire ! 

While he is speaking, Margaret appears behind, looks anxiously round, then 
comes down. 

Margaret. Sir! (Silas turning, starts, and recoils. Margaret ^rfff% 
agitated) You are an officer of tl e prison, (pressing purse into his htud) 
take this — don't count i. — there is more, much more, I am sure, than 
you would ask, but answer me a question, 

Sil. (who has lowered peak of cap, and in a rough voice). What question 1 



ACT ir. 25 

Mar. You know Robert Arnold, a prisoner ? 
giL. No. 47. Yes. 

Mar. Can I speak to him— but for five minutes ? 
SiL. [motionin;/, as he would pive back purse). No; against regulations. 
Mar. You sliill speak tor ni*^ then, vou are an honest man, and it is 
from honest lips I would have Robert Arnold hear the good news. To- 
morrow he will be free — we're only wai.ing lor tlie necessary papers from 
London, but 1 would spare him another night of agony, {grasping him by 
sleeve) Pray, don't refuse me this favor — but whisper it in his ear — say 
that the lives he has preserved, are devoted to his service. His inno- 
cence is known — that there is one wijo can identify the real criminal — tell 
liim that justice is already on his track, and — but why do you turn away 1 
Say this for me, I implore you — and I will double your reward to-mor- 
row — I am rich. 

SiL. {with momentary for g elf tdne Si). Rich! You] {correcting himself) 
'Tis rare, indeed, to find rich ladies taking an interest in one of our 
black sheep. 

Mar. Ah ! but I tell you Robert Arnold is one whose innocence can 
be proved. However, you shall run no danger for me, I will go to the 
governor. 

SiL. [stopping her). No, no, there's no necessity. I'll do what you 
ask — trust in me — and — and — No. 47, shall know the good fortune that's 
in store for him. 

Mar. I shall not forget your kindness. What is your name I 
SiL. Oh, for so slight a service, I'm amply rewarded already. The 
real culprit is known, you say. 

Mar. By a strange chance he was discovered on board ship by the 
very person he 1 ad robbed ! 
SiL. Who arrested him, of course 1 
Mar. No, he escaped by leaping overboard. 
SiL. He was drowned, then 1 

Mar. We have learnt that he was picked up and landed ai a small 
port on the Devon coast — but I must rejoin my friends, {jnoves a little up 
stage — agni7i pauses, and turns towards Silas, taking locket from neck) 
Stay — give Robert this locket ; it contains the hair of the mother and 
the child whose lives he preserved, and who have ever remembered his 
name in their prayers. [She exits, c. platform, and off yl., at back. 

Sit, {makes a proloyiged ivhistle of dismay). My luck again ! Fore- 
warned, foiearmed though, {open^ locket icltiie speaking , and reads) " Mar- 
garet and Alice.'' Two locks of hair intertwined — one dark as night — 
that's Margaret's; the other, likf a r.ay of sunlight — that's the little 
Alice's, I suppose, {short laugh) Curse the sentiment! 1 wish the case 
was he.ivier. However, I'm not too proud to refuse the unexpected dona- 
tion, so in it goes to my jewel box ; and now to put ray brother warders 
on the alert. 

As he goes off, Convicts re-appear in various parts, under guardianship of 
Warders, as before. Warders pace stage at back, appearing and dis- 
appearing. Snipe, xvho has contrived to place himself so as to work close 
to Arnold — as before, dotvn stage — speaks in a lotv quick voice. 

Jack. Keep your eyes and ears open, 47 ; it's Isaac Vidler as gives 
the word. Tliey'd have given it long ago, but they were afraid o' you. 

As he speaks Convicts begin to group stealthily in c. of stage, some as senti- 
nels tvatching W art)ER& off stage ; each time the Warders re-appear^ 
tJie men scatter and make a feint of being hard at work. 



26 NOT GUILTT. 

Rob. Of me 7 

Jack. New comers are always suspicions, and as yon seemed to lioid 
your liead so high iliey tliousht no good of you, but I squared it by 
sweaiiiig as you were a reoular out-aiid-ouier — one of ihem despriL 
coves as 'ud SCI asi ilieir own giandniotlier for her silver thimble. Oh, 
n(» ihanks; when I takes lo a cove he's sure of my 2( oJ word. 

Rob. {(isidi). Escape fiom here 1 \es,nlfill Ijazaids. No fiiond wlio 
ever knew me in the past shall see me in this diess ;isain. {murmur in- 
creases among Convicts at buck — tliry draio close togethir and come down 
itiipe.) 

Jack {much excilcd). Here comes old Vidler — a \^^.i\-'.-orch, as has 
giown gray in pris(nis: but shut him up as they will, Isaac is like the 
m'easle — he's always breakiu' out. 

Crowd of Qo'sxicr9> separate to give passage to Isaac Vidler, an old, urmk- 
led convict in " bad conduct " dress and fetter on leg. His head, tchen he 
moves his cap, is bald, but his grizzled brows hang over his sharp, gleam- 
ing eyes. His ^figure is slightly bent, and he has a tvay of rubbing his 
hands together, tvith a low, chuckling laugh. The Polecat stands near 
him, coughing at intervals belund his Mnd — his manner cringing, but 
eagerly watchful. 

Isaac {putting b-^ck crotvd with extended hands as he advance.''). Let me 
breathe, my chihiren, let me breathe. You're a bad lot — a \ery bad 
lot, but y«u wouldn't rob the <»ld man of his brenth, would yevi 

CoNVtCTS. No, no ! {the Polecat, coughs as he catches iight <f Silas, 
visible for a moment among the rocks.) 

Isaac {turning sharply). Stoj) ihat coueh, Polecat! or I'll find yon a 
lozenger liiat shall b^ •' congh-no-more " with a vengeance ! {to Con- 
victs) Then it's agieed, my flowers o' beauty, that we wants a change 
o' air 1 

Jack. We can't do wiihout it. 

Pole. Prisons, isn't what ihey used to be! 

Jack {oratrnc'liy). They're a-cultin' us down with the rest of the 
Government esiablishments. If things ain't made more c<"m!ortab!e, 
how cm tiiey expect ns lo s'op 1 {plaintively) Once the old institooshun's 
gone, and — {throw ng wile arms) where are we ? {murmur of npprobatv.n, 
which he sappresses — Polecat coughs again under cover of the (xcitrinenl. and 
Silas again appears and disoppears among rocks, after (xchai.giug signal) 
VdiU'x-arch ! it I may h^ ])ei milled to a Ivise 

Isaac unappi hiy). No, yt-r innyn't. {"ddressijig Convicts) I takes the 
lead or r washes my ha- ds of th^ 1 ns'nes<. Is there anyone here as 
can say lie knows more nf a jirison th n lsa;ic V <ller ? (amidst an ab «A- 
cd si ince Is k AC drt.tcs himacif vp tcith great dignity) It's not for me to 
boasl of my f miy, but si ce Georue the Third was king, there hasn't 
been a Vid er, m.ile or leraile, as hasn't enjoyed the hospiiaiiiy of ihe 
Biiiisli Government! So shut np. my hemp blossoms! and if the old 
man's to pilot the si ip, he dofs it his own way. 

All. Hear, hear ! 

Isaac. Unfort'nately, ray bh s>ed bales in the wood! yoil are here, 
and ii's jusr where you don't want to lie {turning with a fierce iiestnre to 
Polecat) Slop that cou^li ! d > ye ii ar ? {the deep bnomi- g of prison bdl 
h'ard) Tliere goes the return b;-*!. ! {to (he Cuiivic/v^ watching rt b^ick) 'i'he 
w.uders will be lipre in si monipnt, k epyour e\es skiimed and your liai ds 
ready, my dan<le ions ! and now, as I'm tired of public speaking, do yon, 
Jrick, tell 'em the way lliey must take^ if they wishes lo return to the 
buzzums of tlieir afrect'.onate families. 



ACT II. 



27 



Jack {ihe Convicts group vokiuI him as he s^pcnJcs, tvilh oiUstrdched ncckx, 
devouriiuj his tvon's). All riizlit, V-xlv\-arch. Fust, then, you catches hold 
of one of Lliem l)iaiiches--(/;o<?/;//'/7 io tree on rising ground or hill to r.) a- 
top of liiai lieaj) of boudeis, tmd make a drop iiiio the niiHy below. 
{some of the Convicts dnnv bick and give a irhisUe of inarm) AVheii. if you 
liaven't broken your necks, as I did pretty lear, when I luinbled into it 
t'other day — you'll keep aloii<i ('own 'nioiifj the fuzz- s and bushes till 
you conie-> to a deep hole — Aheie youM get .mother cr<.|)i'er if you don't 
take care — at tlie bottom you c eeps and crawls till you finds yourself 
in the des'^rted w<rrkin2S of an old lead mine, and then I leaves you to 
take your chance of coinina out, somehow or soun^wheres, and take ad- 
wantase of the niyht fos: to make tracks for the coast. 

First Convict {shikiug head). It's a lick. isli job — who leads the 
wav 1 

Second Convict {draioing hack). There's a fall of thirty feet to begin 
with ! 

Other Convicts {nlso drawing bnck). Yes, who jjoes fust 1 

ViD. {with nn air of superb generosity). As Jack Snipe discovered the 
road, he shall have the first cliance ! 

Jack. Of breakiuii his neck ! th iidc'ye, Patri-ffrcA. {grandlg) I accept 
with one prowiso I (Imjing hnnd on Arnold's shoulder) that No. 47 is the 
pal as goes with me. {quick — aside to Arnold) Trust m«', I know the 
way and the workings, and I m bure as a cat it's liberty any way ! 

As Jack and Arnold cross quickli/, Polecat coughs violently, and Silas 
is seen to appear and disappear on boulders at left. TJien the CoxviCTS, 
xvho have been watching in different attitudes behind, come quickly down 
stage. 

CoNviCT.=5. The screws ! the warders! the warders ! 
ViD. {all activity, and springing on rock . There's only half a dozen on 
'em ! At 'em, my ti^er lilies ! give it 'em hot — and then lor a rush ! 

The Convicts, armed toith picks and other mining tools, attack and keep off 
Warders, driving them bick. At the same time Jack and Arnolp 
have reached top of hill on right, closely followed by the Polecat, tvho 
crawls after them rapidly— keeping low down aTftong rocks, like a snake. 
Jack swings himself by branch, and drops immediately, Arnold catches 
branch as it rebounds, and is follmoiny his example, rchen Polecat, sud- 
denly springing up from the loiv brushwood, which has hidden his advccnce, 
endeavors to detain him, Arnold eludes his grasp and disappears amidst 
the sound of breaking branches and a shower of leaves. TJie Polecat, 
who springs into his place is shot from off stage, l. 

Silas {entering l.. musket in hand) No. 47! It's No. 47! he was 
escaping! {dropping hut of musket on ground) and he's dead ! 

Margaret {who, with St. Clair has entered at hack, c, rushes forward). 
No. 47 ! dead ! {she rushes up the rocks and bends over body) Dead ! No ! 
{rising up with a joyful cry) Robert Arnold has escaped ! 

While Margaret is rushing up rocks, Silas Jarrett, wJiose rap has fallen 
of, comes quickly down stage and faces St. Clair, tvho, in fol'lotving 
Margaret, has taken c. The recognition is mutual, and as St. Clair 
raises his finger to denounce him, Silas, down stage l., recoils thunder- 
struck, dropping musket. 



28 KOT GUILTY. 

Tableau. — The had ground filled htj Warders who present muskets. The 
Convicts clustering down stage, r., and casting aside weapons in token oj 
submission, as Act closes. Curtain descends rapidly. It rises trgain al- 
most as rapidly and shoics ch<inge of tableau. St. Clair upon hill, h<tlf 
supporting Margaret, and pointing to Silas, tvlw, is in custody, is be- 
tween two ffrw?^(^ Warders, u-hile Trumble, c, is in conversatimi with 
Governor, as explaining situation. The Convicts are sullenly forming 
into file, tinder the menacitig attitude of Warders. 

CURTAIN. 



ACT III. 

India— A.D., 1857. 

SCENE. — Bhurtpoor, a military post and trading out-station on the hanks of 
the Jumna. 

As curtain draics up Sergeant Wattles comes down with Triggs and 
Polly, iht two latter shaking him heartily by the hatid. 

Triggs. I'm so slad to see yer ! 

Polly. Wljen did you come ? 

Wattles. About an lionr a^o ; and a hot niaroli we've had of it, the 
country's swarmlnj; witlj rebels — and for the devils who have cut off 
our lilile detachment, and driven us in here, we'll give a good account 
of 'em, never fear. 

Pol. Fear ! Joe Triggs is brave as a lion ; I've heard him say so, 
often. 

Trig. Yes, certainly, bu^ that was when I was a fraction of the Brit- 
ish aimy, now having bouuht myself out and taken a clerkship with Mr. 
Arnold, that I misht be near you. Polly, I've dropped tlie lion, and {en- 
deavoring to take her wnist) colioned to the lamb. 

Pol. Have done, sir ! how dare you, and the sergeant present ! 

Trig. Don't, Pc'.ly, don't turn your back to me in that broad way ! 
Who could resist such a wide expanse of English waist land ] 

Wat. Don't make a stranger of me. There's nothing I admire so 
much as love-making, or a marriage, always provided I'm only a spec- 
tator. But I want you to tell me all about Robert Arnold ; I he-inl 
something of the story when our regiment was back in England — it was 
quite a romance. 

Trig. Ro-mance! 

Pol. You never read nothing so interesting even in the " London 
Journal." 

Trig. After making his escape from Dartmoor, quite ignorant of th'> 
steps that were being taken for his release, he not away on ship-board 
and worked his passage out to India, here, after no ends of ups and 
downs, he hears of his innocence having beea proved, aud of the arrest 
of that skulking, ne'er-do-well, Silas Jarrett ! 

Wat. Silas Jarrett ! who's Silas .Jarrett 1 

Trig. Lor ! you ought to remember him ! The drunken chap as you 
wanted to 'list, when Polly's cruelty driv' me to take the shilling ten 
year ago in Southampton. 

Wat. Ten years ago! (touching forehead) Don't answer to call — wiped 
off the muster-roll of memory. 



ACT III 29 



Pol. Him as was the livinfj, breathing image 

Trig, (interrupting). Less the rags and dirt. 

Pol. Of your captain, Mr. Ormond Willoughby. 

Wat. {ivtth dignity) Colonel, Sir Ormond Willonghby — got the title on 
the death of his brother; he's as rich as Croesus, whoever that chap 
may be, but what's become of Sil is, him as did the robbery for which 
Robert — I mean Mr. Arnold, was condemned 1 

Trig. He was trounced for that and ."^ome other little affairs of the 
same chnracter, and is now working out his fifteen year in Australy. But 
1 say, Wattles 

Wat. Sergeant Wattles ! keep up the respect though you have left the 
army. 

Trig. Confidence for confidence— without prejudice, you know, as we 
used to say in the law — what's all this about Sir Ormond and Miss Alico 
Armitage? 

Wat. That the colonel proposed marriage at Madras and was accepted, 
only the match were put off as Miss Alice was too young. 

Pol. {surprised). Accepted ! not by Miss Alice 1 

Wat. Same thing — he was accepted by her guardian, Mr. St. Clair. 

Trig. Our resident collector — that is to say, who was our resident col- 
lector, for he's now again away at Madras on business. 

Pol. Leaving Miss Alice under the care of ray mistress, Mrs. Doctor 
Honoria McTavish. Have done, Joe, will you 1 I hear Mr, Jack's voice 
in the counting-house. 

Wat. Who's Mr. Jack? 

Pol. Oh ! such a duck of a man ! 

Trig. Duck of a man ! there you go again. Miss Dobbs, it's your na- 
ture to be expansive, even in your compliments. After all, who is Mr. 
Jack! what is Mr. Jack 7 Mr. Jack is only Mr. Arnold's factotum! 
Mr. Arnold's confidential servant, who takes a position no one knows 
why, and comes from no one knows where — that's what Mr. Jack is. 
{bugle calls heard at L. side.) 

All. What's that for ? 

Wat. Nothing, nothing, {aside, as he crosses stage). Mustn't alarm them, 
but something's up. 

Trig. You ain't going, sergeant 1 

Wat. {at side as bugles sound again) Duty before pleasure, my children. 
(aside, as he exits c. and L.) The scouts have come in — we shall have hot 
work before long. 

Pol. {going). And I must be off, too. 

Trig, (bitterly). To talk to Mr. Jack. Cruelty, thy name is Dobbs ; 
but what cai I expect, when even the sun of India has failed to melt 
you. 

Pol. You'll break my heart, Joo. 

Trig. I wish I could, but I'm not a stonemason. 

Pol. I won't hear any one speak against Mr. Jack ; and, though he 
certainly never speaks of his life in England, yet he's everything a man 
should be. 

Trig. Is he 7 an undersized, brown-visaged feller! 

Pol. Who has always a kind for 

Jack entering from counting-house, l., has come quietly dotvn, his appearance 
is much changed from previous art, he is no longer the cadaverous convict 
with the close-cropped hair, he tvears whiskers and his face is broivned, he 
has the usual light colonial costume, slighly exaggerated. 

Jack. One of his own countrywomen, and really. Miss Dobbs, to see 



30 NOT GUILTY. 

such a face and figure as yours in this land of rice and curry powder, is 
to think of strawberries and cream, fi esh butter and new laid eggs, 
streaky bacon, ginger beer, and all other kind of dairy produce. 

Pol. You don't like India, Mr. Jack ? 

Jack, (r.)- Like it ! Do you tnke me for a tiger, or what's worse, for 
one o' these gamboge colored ragamuffins, who are rampaging about the 
country, a warring with babies and women. 'Ere's a costume for a man 
2S has known what cord'roy and lust'in means, and has enj i5'ed a real 
London fog {aside and ivinking) and a Dartmoor one too ! Lor ! I get 
quite cold when 1 think of it — even in this bakehouse of a place ! 

Pol. (c ). But the Indian sunshine ! 

Jack. Bother the Injun sunshine ! Hasn't our English women got a 
better article in their eyes — though if all heyes was like yourn, Miss 
Dobbs, they'd singe us into hashes! 

Trig, {ivho has been fuminp about, interposes between tJiem). Beg pardon! 
but you are not as yet appointed overlooker to this estate, Mr. Jack. 

Jack. If I've offended the lady I apologize, but when in the Inj es we 
do as the Injuns do. and a lit'Je hextra warnilh is allowable, 

Pol. {briUing). Offend me, not a bit of it ; I know how to take care of 
myself under all conditions of the atmosphere, but when I do want a 
special constable I shan't send for you, Joe Triggs. {she goes tip stage.) 

Jack {to Tuiggs). There, there, you've been and gone and done it, 
Joe Triggs, if you will do the tyrant and hinterfere wiih the little fancies 
of the sex, Jue Triggs, wiiy don't you slop till you're married, Joe 
Triggs ? 

Trig. Married! think you, I don't see it; if Miss Dobbs must bring 
down game she shai't do it with a certificate. 

Pol. {coming down like a hurricane). Wiiat do you mean by that, sir ? 
{h>islericdly) You, you want to insult rae ! {^staggering bnck and sinking 
sud'ienlg against Jack) I throw myself on your protection, Mr. Jack ! 
{aside) 111 give Joe a lesson! 

Jack {^si/e). I wish she wouldn't throw hen^self so heavily. 

Trig. ProLection indeed ! It is l who should a|)i)ly for that, {touching 
breast) It's all bankruptcy here, Miss Dobbs — all bankruptcy, 1 assu f 

J'OU. 

Pol. Then why don't you take your declaration ofif the file and give 
better people a chance? 

Jack {rxidtiwjlg). B«tt^r p-^ople, Joe Triggs, better people. 

Trig. Better! {asuU) 1 can't stand that, '{to Jack, who is looking off) 
Mr. Jack ! 

Jack {turning round). Sir. to you. 

Trig, {egehtg him over tcith intense grandeur). We shall meet again! 

J ACK {offering h'tnd). D'e-ligiitel ! 

Trig, {trying to get at Jacs, xvho avoids him behind Polly) Where the 
intervention of a third party will be impossible. 

Pol. {'iside and delighted) He's working himself np like new beer, {stop- 
ping Triggs as he is going up stage) What is the ninlipr, Joe? 

Trig, {mddeay brenkmg down). Oh. notliin>: to .'^i)pak of; it's the buz- 
zum, miss, the buzzum. tliat's all. T.'ie Triggs's was always tender — 
tender, though brought up to the law ! Th's is the spo't where our 
fam'ly fenl.s, Miss Dol.bs, in the bnzzum, this side o' the weskii — here! 
{he strikes hre<'St violently, and rush's of c. to L.) 

Jack. Oli, Mss Dobbs, if it hadn't been for you I should have killed 
him. Dill you .see how he rnn, when I went like iliis? [jUnees himself in 
a ridiculo'is attitude— approaching PoLLY, who stands aghast) Wliat's the 
matter with liiin, Polly ? 

Pol. {turning upon him). Matter, sir — matter ! I'd have you to know 



ACT III. 31 

that true love is not a matter to be snii;2;ere(i at and made fan of. 
You've made us both unhappy, that's what you've done, {begins to sob.) 

Jack. Done ! what have I done ? 

Pol. Haven't you made love to me before Joe ? {sobs again) But you 
men «are always so sLnpid ! 

Jack. I i^ay, don't! you'll become too moist if you go on in tliat way 
— if I did mnke love to you, I give you my word of honor, I didn't mean 
it — I swear I didn't mean ii ! 

Voh. {stopping cryi)ig suddenly). You didn't ! you didn't! (giving him a 
sounding box of the ears) Tiien that will teach you not to come between 
two loving hearts asain ! {<is she exits u.) Men have no feeiin"s ! 

Jack {nebbing his ear). No feeliu's I That woman doesn't know her 
own power. 

As he speaks, the laughing face of Alic-e Armitage appears at tJie half opened 
trelUced window above verandah, amongst the creejnng plants and roses. 

And now to see Mr. Arnold, who's gone down to the stores to arm as 
many of our coffee-colored friends as may prove faithful in case of at- 
tack, {seriously) And i-y what I seed this morning you may count them 
on your finaer tips. (Alice, who has phtclced a handful of flowers, from the 
plant about windoio, t-Jirows them at Jack tctthout their touching or being 
perceived by him) Ah ' Robeit Arnold ! when I think of what he's dene 

for me and the risk he still runs 'acos for me — I'd — I'd {as he raises 

his hand to give emphasis, a little satin slipper, ivhich Alice has taken off, 
hits him in the back — with a Jump he straightens himself up) Wot's that ? 
{picks up slipper) Ah ! you c<tme from M'ss Alice, there isn't such 
another tiny little trotter this side of the Thames, though Heaven for- 
give me speaking of that blessed river, with its Isle of Dogs, and ile-y 
fogs, alongside of his cursed place, all blue and yeller like a bad cheese, 
or a poaciied heg. 

Alice {whispering over balcony). Hist! Mr, Jack. 

Jack {m centre, bending over dipper, back towards her, speaks aside). I 
liears yer I It's one o' them woices that ev^eu to hear is a priwilege. 

Alice. Mr. Jack. 

Jack {still iv it hout turning). She's up to some m'schief, some bit of 
wickedness, and she'll get me into it as sure as egss is eggs ! She's 
Generalissimo, and when she says, *' Jack, c?o e^ .' " Jack does it, mind 
yer! {iteming) Yes, theie she is, one o' them bits o' heaven as we can't 
'elp h essin' whensoever and howsomder we sees 'em. 

Alice {stamping foot). Why don't you answer 1 

Jack {eagerly). Don't throw t'other clipper, Miss, you'll catch cold. 
(aside) She's capable of chucking her whole wardrobe, {(doud) What do 
ye vant, miss ? 

Alice {pettishly). I wnnT to get out — I m locked Up. 

Jack. Who locked yon up 1 

Alice. Mrs. McTavish 

Jack {aside). She's a dragon, she is. 

Alice. She says, there's going to be a batile — a dreadful battle. 

Jack {tvith sudden seriousness). Well, miss 

Alice {dapping hands). An I I want to see it 

Jack {turning rou7id, tn hdf asidf). She wants to see it. She talks of 
a battle as if it were a bit of bailey sugar, {nloud) Wiiere's the key, 
miss 7 

Alice. In Mrs. MxiTavish's pocket. 

Jack Tlien I collapses and shuts up like a two foot rule 

Alice. You won't help me ? 



32 NOT GUILTY. 

Jack. I would if I could— but 

Alice. You won't help me — you wont ? 

Jack (^emphatically). I can't. 

Alice. Then I'll help myself— and down I come {as she speaks, 

she prepares to descend by creepiny plants around pUlars of verandah.) 

Jack {greatly excited and rushing to her as she descends). Oh, I say don't ! 
What are you up to — that is, I mean, what are you coming down to? 
You'll hurt your precious little tootsy, it's without a slippt-r. Oh, lor' ! 
oh, lor'! here, lean on me; gently does it! But what a ha.ss I am! 
{placing her carefully on ground) As if you could do a thing as wasn't the 
gentlest of the gentles ! 

Alice {hopping about). Jack, give me my slipper. 

Jack {ashepuU it on, she resting her foot upon his knee). Ah! what 
wouldn't Mr. Arnold give to be in my place? 

Alice {pulling awn y her foot). If you talk like that — I'll — I'll — tell Mrs. 
McTavish that you let me out! {with sudden change of manner — in great 
alarm, looking off, R. D. E.) Here she comes — hide n)e ! 

Jack. Oh, but miss, where am I to hide you 1 Here, get behind a 
flower. 

Alice {stamping her foot imperatively'). Hide me, I tell you ! {running 
behind verand'ih) And set rid of Mrs. McTavish. 

Jack {aside, as he places her behind a creeping plant in corner of veranhah). 
It's weak, 1 kuow, but the chap as says '• no " to her is a beast. 

He is moving up stage as Mrs. McTavish and Arnold appear at hack, r. u. e. 

Alice {thrusting her head through leaves). Do take her awny, Mr. Jack. 

Jack {"ghost). Take her away? Me! take her away 7 Oh, lor'! 
how am 1 to do it 1 

Alice {coazwgly). Oh, do! there's a good, dear Jack! Talk to her 
in Scotch, you know. I waut to speak to Mr. Arnold, par-tic-u-leer-a- 
leeraly 1 

Jack. 1 understand ! But I can't talk Scotch. 

He moves up stage as Mrs. McTavish and Robert Arnold come down. 
Robert wears beard and inomtache, carries a rifle in his Jiand, the strap 
of ichich he f astern about shoiUder while lu speaks. 

Robert. I fear the worst, Mrs. McTavish ; and would give all of 
which I am possessed if every woman in Bhurtpoor were now in Cal- 
cutta. 

Mrs. McT. An' d'ye think these loons will have the owdacity to at- 
tack the .station 1 

Rob. Sir Ormond Willoughbyj who has just arrived, and takes com- 
mand of the cantonment, thinks it more than likely, they are in the 
neiiihborhood, and in lar^e force. 

Mrs. McT. The dpevils ! 

Rob. {'inxiously). Where is Miss Armita^e 7 

Mrs. McT. (l. c.) In her ain room, {imde, touching pocket) under 
lock and key. {an she speaks, Alice's laughing face is protruded from among 
the flowers, and ofteraquick gesture to both Aknolu and Jack, is ogam 
withdrawn. ) 

Jack (r. c, coming doivn stage, touches Mrs. McTavish on arm and 
speaks in a tvhisper). Ay, Mistress McTavish, there's a' the soger's wives 
ben the house asking for ye. 

Mrs. McT. {sharply). What for ? 



ACT III. 33 

Jack. Ay, I canna say for certain ! but they say the medicine chest 
has a' gane wrong, and they duot the perscriptions. 

Mrs. McT. Doot the preescreepiions ! An' every one o' them wree- 
tin' out in the learned languagts bv the late I>r. jMcTavish, M.D., F.R, 
S.S. ! 

Jack {nside). And STUPID! Better go right through the alpha- 

bet while you're about it. {aloud) U's like their impudence — and I lei* 

'em so. Tliat Mrs. Flanagan says that you canna read your ain labels, 

and that vou've siven her an embrocation to swallow in twa doses. 

Mrs. McT. Where is she ? 

Jack. Ay, she's been to the house, and Mrs. Flanagan says your— 

youi- {he cannot think of any more Scotch, so rattles out) " So Willift 

brew'd a pec'c o' maut," •' What's a' the steer, kimmer," Rob Roy and 
TuUocksorum. 

Mus. McT. The ungrateful hussy ! Didn't I attend her husband in 
his last moments 1 

Jack {hiyhly delighted at the success of ruse). This way, mum, this way ! 
I think I see her over there by the barrack door! Ay, they are all swal- 
lowing the sticking-plasier. {exit Mrs. McTavish, r. 2 e. Jack, tcith 
a glance of triumph at Alice) Well, I've got rid of Mistress McTavish 
for you. 

Alicb {comivg down). Oh, I'm so glad to have the opportunity of 
speaking lo you alone ; but if you look so glum as that, 1 won't say a 
word ! 

Rob. {coming dozen, r. c). Dear Alice, if you only knew the weight on 
my heart — I don't know what to do ! 

Alice (l, c). But 1 do! I'm going to speak to Sir Ormond Willougli- 
by myself. 
Rob. You ! 

Alice. Haven't you said he is the noblest of men 1 
Rob. I've every reason to believe it. 

Alice. Then be sure he'il act up to his reputation. Half the mischief 
in this world is made by people not having things put before them in 
their proper light. Wlien poor, dear mamma made Mr. St. Clair mv 
guardian, I promised to obey him, of course ; but then, equally, of 
course, 1 never expec'.ed he'd ask me t) do anything I didn't like. 

Rob. This dreadful rebellion has been a heavy blown to Mr. S. Clair, 
and it is sai 1 that but for Sir Orniond's assistance he'd be now a ruined 
man. Sir Ormond Willoughby now offers you a princely home in Eng- 
land, while I {taJiing both her hands) You know my j)ast, Alice ? 

Alice {with feeling). And do you think I could ever have loved you 
so much if I hadn't known it 1 Yours was the name that my dear mother 
taught me utter in my prayers ; and, being always in my mouth, i: — 
it — it — somehow got down into my heart, and there's an end of it. 

Rob {still holding her hands and raising Ihem to his lips). You color 
everything with your own bright nature, Alice ; but as 1 have said, St. 
Ciair is under deep obligations to Sir Ormond Willoughby. 
Alice. And how does that affect me ? 

Rob. {dropping her hands and h'df turning away). And greater, a thou- 
sand times greater are the obligaiions T'm under to Mr. St. Clair. 

Alice {slowly). I see ; the refusal must come from him — I will man- 
age that. 

As she speaks Coloxel Sir Ormond Willoughby enters, r. u. e., in un- 
dress, and Civilians, with Sergeant Wattles, all armed, enter hasti- 
ly at back, c. 



34: '• NOT GUILTY. 

Colonel {speaking io Auxold, who advances up stage, Alice remaining 
down stage near verandah). How many of your people can you rely ou, 
Arnold 1 

Rob. Few, I fear. 

Jack {entering, R. 2 E.). None. The copper-colored scum liave struck 
work 10 a man. 

Rob. Tliis must be seen to. {going vp stage with Jack.) 
Col. (^0 Wattles). Sergeant, accompany Mr. Arnold. (<o Civilians) 
Gentlemen, th.s is a matter that concerns us all — your wives and fami- 
lies. Give Mr. Arnold your aid 1 entreat you. {they all pass out-^asidf, 
as he comes dotvn stage) I dare not hint the extent of the danijer. If tiie 
fugitive band.s have united, we shall be scattered likea handful of sand. 
They blockade every road, yet, if I could but convey llie news of our 
peril to the general's camp, we might still ho{)e for leiief. It will be a 
mission of life and death — almost certain death, and therefore to be un- 
dertaken by myself, {ashe turns to move tip stage, he corner face lo face with 
Alice — removing cap) Miss Armitaoe ! Alice. 

Alice. Oh, Colonel Willoughby, can I have a few minutes' conversa- 
tion with you 1 

Col. I fear not now, but when the danger that threate;is us is orer — 

not that there is any re d danger lo alarm yon — but 

Alice {Heriouslg). I luiow tlie full extent of the danger that threatens 
— and it is at siuh a time, when young and old alike tremble between 
life and death — that 1 would i-i)eak of a matter that is life and death to 
me. 

Col. {asfonis/icd). Alice ! 

Alice. My guardian, Mr. St. Clair, has been more than a benefactor 
to my family — he has beeii it's saviour. He is also under gieat obliga- 
tions to you ! You are rich and I am comparatively ])oor — with Mr. 
St. Clair's ai)proval you have honored me with the otfer of your hand. 

Col. {fervcnihj). An ofier, Alice, which I trust 

Alice. Oh! if you .'^peak in that way I siiall break down before I've 
got half througii what I have to say. 

Col. {laughing). And what's that ? I'm a soldier, Alice, and can 
stand lire ! 

Alice. It's only that I want you to give up all idea of marrying me — 
and also I want \ou lo take upon yourself all responsibility of breaking 
off the match. 

Col. {much startled). Miss Armitage ! 

Alice {naively). Ot course, I know it can't be any ^rf<z< sacrifice to 
you, because we're almost strangers to each other ! 

Col. {much pained). Excuse me. Miss Armitage, but I have passed the 
age of light fancies and fickle determinations. 

Alice. Oh ! I'm sure I feel greatly fl ittered and honored — and I dare 

sav 1 mi.'.ht have been proud and happy if {she hesitates.) 

CoL. AVell ! "if 

Alice. If 1 hadn't loved somebody else ! 
CoL. Does Mr. St. Clair know of this 1 

Alice. Nobody knows anything about it. but myself and Robert ! 
CoL. {starting back). Robert Arnold ! Impossible! 
Alice {rvith dignity). The choice I have made. Sir Ormond Willough- 
by, carries with it no di.sgiace to me and no insult to you ! I was early 
tausht that I owe I my life, an 1 wh.it was more to me, my mother's life, 
to Robert Arnold, {she breaks out again in her natural gay, sunni/ tvay) 
And so, somehow, you see, I srew to love him even before I knew whai 
llie word love really meant. Young as I am I know the honor reflected 
by a great name, a name such as yours, Sir Ormond ; yet were Robert 



^CT m. 35 

Arno'd as obscure nnl penniless as lie was wlipn liis name was first 
breailied into my childisti ears, 1 would choose liini above all otiieis that 
llie world coniains — 1 dare say you liiiiik ine loinaiiiic, imprudent, silly, 
if you will, but — [drmcing herself up) 1 love RobnL Arnold ! I K,ve him 
with all my heart! [is Willoughby turns away with a de^pairtvg ycsitirc, 
and ns to h'tde his emotion, Alice, ndvancing, lays her hand quid ly on his 
arm) You musin't think me heartless or uufeelinjr, but Robert is so un- 
happy, and 1 — 1 — {brushing tears from (yes) am so veiy, veiy miserable, 
and we can never be happy unless you help us. I know it's my guard- 
ian's ambition I sliould be your wife, and — and — he's under great obli- 
gations to you, so that 

CoL. (with generous warmth, and taking both her hands). Oh ! you 
mustn't speak of that — I'll be your friend, Alice, ihow^h— {with an 
(ffort) I'd liave given him half my fortune had it been otherwise 

Alice. You'll be my friend then 7 

Col. It's a heavy sacrifice, but a true love should shrink from nosac- 
r'fice. {raising her hands to his lips) And both Robert and yourself shall 
find a true friend in me. 

Battle of drums off scene — Willoughby dropping her hands and moving a 
step or tiro up stage rs Robert Arnold, Wattles, Officers, and 
Civilians m/CT*, hurriedly, c. from r. and h. 

What's the meaninn < f this ? 

RoBKKT. Tiie rebels hav' crosse 1 ll.e river in force ! {sound as of dis- 
tant disch'irge of artillery) and have l»egun the attack. 

Col. {rapidly a.-ida to Arnold, and grasping his hand, comrs down stage). 
Robert! to your caie 1 eniru-t JNliss Armiiasie. {taking stage as he go<s 
vp, and addres'ung the armed men who group behind) Genilemen ! if we aie 
but few in numbers, let us be strong in our heart! Balk the tiger in 
liis first sprin.', aid you may beat him back into the jungle with your 
knotted handkerchiefs. 

Up stage. Sir Ormond turns with an assuring gesture to Alice, who is now 
clinging to Robert's arm, and, amidst an enUmsiastic cheer and clash of 
arms, the tableau is closed in by 

SCENE II.— Interior of Mr. St. Clair's Bungalow —the sun blind of veran- 
dah down, c. At intervals, sounds of firing, as at a great distance. 

Polly rushes on, l., her hands to ears, in great alarm, followed Jy Triggs, 
endeavoring to console her. 

Triggs. Polly — but I say, Polly, listen to reason. 

Polly. 1 shan't ! 

Trig. Of course you won't, and I was wrong toexpect it of yer. Cast 
your cruel eyes on this, (showing gun which he carries. Polly half turns 
round, gives a scream, and again averts her face) Oh, 1 say ! come, d'aw it 
mild; you won't win the race by such a false start as that. Y^ou've 
been through your military exercise long ago, {biitcrhf) Ah ! I know the 
sort of arms you like, only you'd have 'em round your waist instead of 
in your hands. 

Pol. {turning upon him like a tigress, her arms a-kimbo). What do you 
mean by that, sir 1 Say that again and I'll box your ears ! 

Trig' Oh, Polly ! can you speak to me like this, when I shall soon be 
face to face with gunpowder 1 



36 NOT GUILTY. 

Pol. {soflening). Then why do you go ? Can't we both hide in the 
cellar 1 

Trig. The temptation's great, I confess, but I'm an Englishman ! 

Pol. Then try to remain one. 

TiiiG. My country calls me. 

Pol. Then let her keep on calling. 

Trig. Bat some one must answer the knocks, Polly. 

Pol. Well, as far as these chaps are concerned, I wish they was run- 
a-way ones. 

Polly crosses to r Koise as of u smash off stage. Polly springs away 
from Triogs, they having approached each other. Jack Snipe, who is 
armed at all points, enters, Imstily, b. 

Jack yclmging hold of Joe's arm an I half fainting with fear). Don't 
b3 alarmed, don't be alarmed ! It's only a shell that's entered the 
kitchen and kmcke I over a coffee service — that's all ! which reminds 
me, Polly, that Mrs McTavish lias just fainted, and is now shouting for 
you. 

Pol. {with sudden alarm). I'll go to her. 

Jack. Oh, never mind her — she can take care of herself— but just go 
and se3 after Miss Alice, who's crying her liitle 'art out on the sofa. 

Pol. {'IS she rum off, r.). Bless her ! if she take on she'll cry my heart 
out too. {shots. Titeg both seek support in each other^s bocks.) 

Jack. Don't be alarinel, .Toe, I'm with you — I'll never leave you. 

Trig, {ocking round confidcniinlly). How do you feel, Mr. Jack 1 

Jack. Well, as — as — speaking man to man yer know — not so well as 
I expected. These chaps don't fire far enough off I'm not a coward, 
not naturally, as far as a black eye goes, but — but perhaps it's constitoo- 
shunil ; I like to fi2ht with plenty on my side. 

Trig, {taking his hmd). I re-pect your fetdin's ! 

Jack {returning the pmsp with fervor). And shares 'era, I know — we're 
not made of common clay, Mr. 'JTriggs — not pipe clay, you know. Deli- 
cate minds shrink from observation, and I don't mind confessing to you, 
that if left to myself I would have the moral courage to choose the reai-. 

Trig. We must have been born under the same planet ! I'll stick to 
you like a mussel to a rock, (^s he is about to embrace Jack, he suddenly 
stops) But how about Miss Dobbs ? 

Jack. What of her ? 

Trig. You like her 1 

Jack. Of course I do. 

Trig. You love her 1 

Jack. Get out ! Love ! Look you here ! A man loves as he must, 
not as he choo>es. For my part, there's been only three human creelurs as 
liave ever warmed me up to that point. The fust, was a little chip of a 
child — as, happily for itself p'raps — died afore it could know how dear 
it was to me. The second as was Mr. Arnold, as has stuck and will 
stick here, {touching heart) mind yer — as bright and as fast as a pin in 
a pin cushion — and last of the three is Miss Alice, who's a-cryin' her- 
self blind for one as I knows on— even to see them together in poetry — 
•' If you loves me as I loves you, 
No knife shall cut our loves in two." — " Shakespear." 

Trig, {delighted). Tlien you don't love Polly 1 

Jack Mike your mind easy! It was only wy fun ! a chap jnu;-! 
amuse himself somehow! But once you places her afore me as Mrs. 
Triggs, I wouldn't touch her with a pair of tongs! 'Pon my soul I 
wouldn't ! 



ACT III. 37 

Trig, {indignmttly^. What do you mean 1 

Jack {vn-y kindly, and as wishing to kill an ill-feeling'). She's not my 
sort! Too much ot her 

Trig, {with difficuUy restraining his passion). Indeed! 

Jack {•<ame amiihle business). Besides — if I did love her, I wouldn't 
marry her. 

Trig, {^exploding with passion). \VI)at do you mean 1 

Jack. Oli ! bless you ! I don't mean wliat you mean ! What t mean 
is this ! that there are circumstances connected with my family history, 
which I'm not called on to explain ; I wouldn't marry any mortal wo- 
man. 

Unier Wattles, l., hastily, in great disorder, musket in haifid, followed by 
Servants. 

Wattles. What ar-* you loitering here for — are you going to be kill- 
ed like sheep ? The rebels have crossed the river. 

Trig, [faintly, getting r. of Jack). Cro.ssed ill Oh, lor'! 

Wat. It's fearful odds — a hundred to one I 

Jack (dubiously). One to one is quite odds enough for me. 

Wat. You coward ! (going) Why don't you take example of Arnold ? 
I left him fighting like a man, surrounded by scores of sepoys and in 
deadly peril. 

Jack {springing forward). What — what's that you say ? Robert — Mr. 
Arnold! oh, curse the mister! Robert Arnold in danger — in deadly 
peril 1 {rushing at the astonished Triggs, and wresting gun from h's hmd) 
Here, give me hold of that thing of yours I I'll be among 'em before 
my name's Jack Snipe 

Wat. Jack what '( 

Jack. Robinson ! I snid Jack Robinson. Where's Mr. Robert Arnold 1 

Wat. You c n't reach him ! He's keeping the fort at the other side 
of the river. 

Jack. Not reach him ! I should 1 ke to see who'll stop mo. {flinging 
hat on ground, and, grasping gun firmly) I'm not one of them as looks 
at a benefactor as if ho weie only a cold joint in the cupboard, to be cut 
at when one wants him ; I lo;)ks at him as something to live and die for 
— and now the hour is conip, I'm blessed if I don't die for him ! {to Ser- 
vants, tvho stand at side) Here, make way ! I wouldn't advise anyone 
to slop me now ! 

Trig, {plucking vp courage). Now only look at him — blessed if I don't 
have a shy, too. 

As he rushes out, l. 1 "E,., followed by the otJiers, the Venetian blinds, c, are 
lifted cautiously, and Silas Jarrett, haggard, ragged, and wounded, 
crawls into the verandah. 

HiijfL?. {'fter advancing a few steps, and listonng). It's like my luck ! 
Escaped at the liazaid <»f my life f:-om Austr;.lia, that land of kangaroos, 
to the land of curry jjowdpr, and only to find myself, as nsual out of the 
frying-pan into the fire — cursed luck! I'd always an ambition to be an 
Indian prince of some sort, or a rajah, at least. Ha, ha ! so as brown 
seemed to be the wini;in<T c )lor, I staked on that, like a fool ; for sud- 
denly tliey lake it into tlieir heads that I meant to belr.iy them, the 
stupid rogues! As if I haven't nvn\y to fear from capture than they have ! 
I gave them leg bail, and swam the Jumni, with bullets sputtering 
round nje like hailstones, I reached the bank, and, surprised by a parly 
of soldiers, put a bold {3/ . upon it, and begin with " this is smart woik, 



38 KOT GUILTY. 

ray lads,'' expecting a ba3'onet stab before the words are out of ray 
mouth ; not a bit of it, each ciiap draws liiniself up as stiff as a ramrod, 
and salutes, {laughs) Salutes rae ? rae! I don't stop to tisk 'era why, 
buL hurry on, but not before I hear one of 'era whisper " fancy our col- 
onel in that disguise, he's been to have a squint at the enemy ! "' Who 
they tiike me f >r, I'm ble si-d if I know, and as Ions as I'm not re-tnlen, 
{I'lHfflis) I'm blesse^l it I care, {starts, listent and icith a frightened move- 
ment retreats and crouches back against wall) I thought I heard a f(»olstep ! 
{ivipes foreheacf) IIow nervous a fellow gets who holds his life by tiie 
skill of his teeth, as I've rione lor the last three montiis ! {suddenly 
crouches down and listen^) It's a woman's step ! I thought int/ ears 
CDuldn't deceive me! 

A distant discharge of ^rearms, and Alice enters, hurriedly, K. — Silas hud- 
dled buck, keenly watchful, and crouching against wall. 

Alice. What terrible filing! and it seems lo come nearer I Oh! 
Robert! Robert ! Heaven p'.e^erve your life ! It is the dearest thing on 
eaith lo me ! 

SiL. {aside and creeping fnrwarvt), Robert ! a lover or a husband, I sup- 
pose. Wlint lools women aiv. 

Alice. And vet I must, look aunin ! {she thrusts b^ck her hair, which 
Jws become loosened from the comb as she a))proaches sun-blind.) 

SiL. {"side, creipiiuf nearer). I've ^een that f ice before! But wiiere ? 
{another discharge of fire~rms, much nearer, Alice, whose hand is upon the 
sun-blind, starts back. ) 

Alice {with a lotv cry). Ro'n i- ! R()bert Arnold ! I haven't even the 
St rcn2lh to die with yon. {she sinks buck, fainting, and is caught in Silas's 
arms ) 

tsiL. {"s he supports her). Robert Arno'd ! Robert Arnold ! who is 
s'lo like ? (bending over her) Ila ! I've dropped into a hornet's nasi in- 
deed ! {rolling of drums and confusion of voices) It's a retreat I and 
where there's a retreat, there's plmidfi" Qookiug into Alice's insen- 
sible fac) Yt'U are j.retiy enoiiijh \o be an angel, ray darlihg ! but 
earthly matters a;e « f more imi)uitance to me just now. {takes her off^ 
L. 1 E. — loud rattle of arti.lery ) 

Silas re-entering, l. 1 e. 

SiL. Hilloh ! they're shelling the house ! {standing close against window 
and glancing of to h.) I'm sorry for tha giil, poor little thing! but in 
such times as these I've o:ily one number on ray slate— (/rt«^/t« as he 
stands in balcony of verandah, prep ring to spring) and that's number one ! 

[Exit, through blind, c. 

Then scene raj) idly d rates away and discovers 

SCENE III. — A deserted battle-field in the neighborhood of Bhurtpoor. 

Jack (k. c). Hum h ! I've pofed another ! That makes the fifth ! 

Rob. Why, Jack, you're quite a fire-eater, I never thought you'd so 
mnc'i courai?e. 

Jack. Well, you can't be more astonished at it than I am — they says 
as every bullet has its billet, and I'm blessed when this [)recious pop 
})opping began, if I didn't think I was the billet for the whole lot of 'em ; 
but never mind me, sir, let's talk of things of more consequeuce. Where's 
Sir Ormond ? 



ACT III. C9 

Rob, When I left him he had determined to make a desperate attempt 
to re.icii the general, who can't be more th m a few miles from here, and 
hurry reinforcemenls. 

Jack {ivko is reloading gxm'). I'm afraid, unless somebody or something 
arrives pretty soon, we're cut grass. 

Rob. Our only hoi)e is to get the women and children into the fort 
and defen I it to the last. 

Jack (shipping gun stock). Which we'll do ! (looking at Arnold, ap- 
proaching him, and pl'icing hand on hs arm tvith change of manner) You're 
thinking of Mi.ss Alee, ain't yer 1 

Rob. (half averting face). Always ! I can think of nothing else. 

Jack. I know what it is, that is, 1 did know afore the little 'un died. 
Whau one o' these innocent things get's inio one's heart, they ain't to 
be picked out like a thorn, mind yer. 

Rob. (offering hand which Jack grasps). You're a good fellow, Jnck! 

Jack. And if I am, whose fault is that — I mean, who's the meiit ? 

Rob. (very kmdly). Should \ fill 

Jack (in'erraptmg). Tiicre'U be two on ns gone, and no mistake! 
You've made me wjiat I am ; I should be a precious sight wus than 
nothing without yer ! Ha ! would yer ] 

Throwing himself quickly before Arnold, as a Sepoy glides on at back from 
R. V. E., and is about to level musket, but seeing himself discovered, disappears. 

Another o' the warminis ! (rushing up stage, cocking gun) Don't go ! stop 
where you are, my frien 1. and you shall have my immediate peisonil 
attention. Come along, Mr. Robert, there ibn't more than half-a-dozen 
on 'em. 

As Jack exits, r. u. e., Colonel Willoughby appears on mound, l. 2 e-, 
badly wounded, and walking tcith extreme difficulty, Arnold, following 
Jack, pauses on seeing Colonel, and rushes to his assistance. Shot is 
heard, r., su2}2iosed to he from Jack's rifle, 

Rob. Sir Ormond ! wounded ! 

Colonel {faintly, and leaning on Arnold), To the death ! Could I 
bnt have reached the liver all might have gone well, (staggers, and is 
supported down stage by Robert Arnold, who places him upon a portion of 
rock, K. 2 E., then unbuttons uniform, endeavors to staunch wound.) 

Col. I'm dying ! 1 feel I'm dying! The villain who filed at me 
crouched behind a tree and has escaped. 

Jack entering, r. v. e. 

Jack. No, lie hasn't. I reckoned up his account — struck the total 
and give him his receipt in full. (Arnold makes gesture to Jack to keep 
back as the Colonel again, an'i with dificulty, speaks.) 

Col. Arnold — Arnold — Alice has spoken to me — t kn'>w a'l — all ! 
{stopping him by a gesture, as he is about to speak, and grasping his hand, then 
in a whisper) For her sake you will undertake the task in which 1 have 
failed. Unless the generil is here within an hoin* — these demons — 
{raising himself up by an effort, and x)iacing his Jiand upon the shoulder of 
Arnold, who is kneeling) — wi 1 work tlieir will! 'lis almost certain 
death, yet I 

Ron. (^rising to his feet). I would gr — and should I drop on the 
road 

Jack {coming down). Tlie message bhall be carried on ! 



40 NOT GUILTY. 

Col. {staggering mh difficulty to his feet, droivs paper from bosom^ 
which he extends to Arnold). The route is marked here — a, moment's 
lipsitation may cost a hundied lives ! womeu and children, but lor us 
defenceless — Go ! and heaven speed you ! 

Arnold returns grasp of hand, passes over mound and disappears, Jack is 
about to follow when a groan from Colonel causes him to pause. The 
Colonel by an efort drags himself painfully up to rock, and after sup- 
portiag himself for a moment tvith difficulty, falls to the rigid behind it. 
His head is thrown back against ground, and half his body, from tvaist 
downwards, is still in view 0/ Audience, and one arm to which still 
hangs the iiniform, which Arnold has previously unbuttoned. [To man- 
age the situation which foilotcs, a " super " dressed as Colonel Wil- 
LOUGHBY, stands prepared behind rock, and falls instead of him to extreme 
right. The actor playing the two parts, disappears by means of a trap 
under the stage, and re-appears almost immediately on opposite side as Si- 
las Jarrett.J 

Jack (coming down quickly). He's fainted, (stoops as glancing at body 
behind rock) He's dead ! {looking up aghast). War's a terrible tiling after 
all. To see a man one moment full of life and vigor, and the next 
smeared out like a paid tavern score — {with a shiver) it's awful! I'm 
afeared they'll never make a soldier of rae. Ii's the suddenness of the 
thins as I objects to. {again gUmcing at bo-ly) Poor fellar, poor fellar ! 
(sound as of firing heard in direction where Arnold has disappeared. Bush- 
ing up, and springing on mound) They've seen Robert! Yes, there he 
goes liead f u t imo the river, (jerks himself about ridiculously — alarmed at 
every report of rifl-) with a siriii<5 of black devils peppering after him ! 
(tossing gun and catching it) Afier all, I like it — it quickens the blood: 
and if I am toppled over, what does it matter what becomes of such 
poor scum as me 1 

He rushes off, l. Silas Jarrett ajypears at extreme back, r. His head ap- 
pears at ^first above block of stmie, upon ivhich he painfully climbs, then 
crouches like a lizard, watchin-' and listening. 

Silas. Yes, the reinforcements have arrived, but they've come by 
another rouie. (as he descends and comes down stage) My luck again. 
From England to Australia, in company with Vidler, and that vindictive 
villain, the Polecat, who owed me a grudge for the bullet I put in his 
leg — I wish it had been in his heart ? A nice life of it I had among 
them till I slipped the chain, got on board ship, and worked my passage 
out to India. Yes, yes, ii's only here, amongst the dead and dying, the 
boom of the cannon, and the clash of steel, that I may hope to be pass- 
ed over and forgotten. It has been a thundering good fight, tiiough — 
the very stream I paused to quench my thirst at lefc a red slain on my 
lips A grand fight — a tussel between bull-dog and wild cat ; (distant 
roll of drum) a.n(\, as usual, the bull dog has had the best of it. {as he 
moves up stage he starts) Hilluh, somebody behind the rock ! {approaching 
stealthily) An officer! {stooping, he gently pulls the uniform coat, which 
comes nff the extended arm) Pliew ! gold swabs too! (leans over as looking 
attentively at face — starts violently as recognizing it, then icith another whistle 
of surprise) Oiniond Willouohby ! ihe'swell captain 1 hey used to chaff 
me about in Southampton ! (as if a sudden thought had struck him — looks at 
his otvn hands, passes one of them quickly aver his face, looks again at body, then 
casts a hurried glance over his own figure) It would l)e a desperate game 
to play— it's worth the trial, (coming a little down stage, the uniform coat 



ACT IV. 41 

in his hand) What liave T to lose 1 what have T to gain ? Momentary 
safety, perhaps, and opportunity of escape. Now I know why those 
fellows saUited me, even in these rags. {scarcJiing pockets of rtvifo'rm as he 
speaks) Yes, I'll do it! {cnsfing aside his mvn ragged garment — he commences 
to invest himself in the Colonel's uniform, speaking rapidly the tchile ; takes 
out parse wliicli lie iceighs m hi^ hand) The sii.ew.s ol war to be.iii wiih. 
What's this I a book! a diary ! {hurriedl / tumijig havis) Queer noiioii — 
jotLiiiCT down one's actions and ideas, {'hmsting it back in pocket with 
short laagh) What a book /inisht have written ! {atl the time tlte action of 
this scene has been going on he has been looking nervously to r. and L. — suddenn 
lif he starts, clutches up his garments from ground and retreats to rock ; at same 
time roll of drum is heard close off stage, then a glad shout) Nothing venture, 
nottiin2 liave. I've begun, and I'll go through with it; but tiist to get 
rid of — Silas Jarrett ! 

He disappears with body behind rock, l. v. e. The rolling of drums continues, 
then a crowd of Soldiers <<«c? Civilians — ma/f and female — surges up<m 
stage from various points, all in great excitement — Trigg s, Polly and 
Wattles m their midst. 

Polly, Our brave defendprs ! (about to throw herself into Wattles' 
arins — she is stopped by Triggs, ivho comes betiveen.) 

Trig. Excuse m^, Miss Dobbs, but you're too expansive. 

Pol. What, would you have me restrain my feelings at such a time as 
this 1 

Trig. Certainly not ! let 'era overflow by all means — (opening arms) 
on me ! 

Pol. Well, I'm so happy that 1 must hug somebody, so for once, Joe, 
it shall be you. {she hugs him— all laugh ) 

Trig. Grateful woman ! {releases himself, and very grandly) I am now 
rewarded for my exfrlions. 

Pol. Your exertions ! {all laugh) But where is Sir Ormood Willough- 
by? 

Wat. Yes, where's our brave colonel 1 

Trig. J 

and > (joyfulhj). Here he comes ! 

l*OL. ) 

Enter Silas as Sir Ormond, l. u. e., and comes doivn, c. 

Omnes {with wild delight). The colonel ! the colonel ! 

Movement — tableau. Alice rushes on from l. 1 e., and takes Silas Jar- 
rett's hand. 

Alice. Ah, you are safe — safe ? Thank Heaven you are safe ! {tableau.) 

curtain. ^ 



ACT IV. 

England. 

SCENE I. — Oakfield Grange, Mr. St. Clair's house, near Southampton. 

Polly is busy ivith birdcage, r., hung against pavilion, into which she is jnit. 



42 

NOT GUILTY. 

ting iccdcr and seed — rmtic benches, seats, tables, etc., dispersed about stage. 
Triggs, w?/w is dressed in tweed suit and billy-cock hat, half -seated on 
rustic table, his foot on bench, 

Triggs. So you nin'L ^cno to the rnces, Polly ? 

Pol. {i^hnrply and uithout tiirmnr). Jiuige lor yourself, you can see me, 
I suppose ? 

Trig. Well, yours is not one o' them forms as requires a tourist's 
telescope, {rising and oppyo'iching htr) What makes yuu so snappish? 
Here have 1 come over from SouthamplOQ a purpose to see you, unci in- 
stead of sayini? '• Joe Trijriis, I am happy to have the honor," you insin- 
uates, '• Jo) TrisiTs, cf-i out ! " 

Pol. (jumping fudde»lg oj^ stool oftd falling against him, head on his 
shoulder). Joe ! I ain't hajipy— far from it. 

Trig, [icith diffictdig supporting her). That's your fault! You might 
be Mrs. Joe Triuifs to niorrer. 

Pol. Yes, br.t I \\(ui't he Mrs. Joe Trijjss, nor Mr.<:. Anybody else as 
lonjT as Miss Alice is so nnserable. {laying hir hand conjidentiaily on his 
arm) You know, Joe, she loves Mr. Arnohl. 

Tiiio. And I know that Mr. Arnold is over head and ears in love with 
her. but what of that 1 

Pol. Simply that it cui't be. 

Trig. Why can't i» he 1 Ts there a more faithful lovyer in the world, 
exct'pt me? Why, wiien Mi-. A'nold was brouslit wounded to the hos- 
]ntal and nursed Ihrouiih his lon^ illness by Mr. Jack, was there any 
other name in his mouih but hers? 

Pol. He C')uIdn'L have a sweeter 

Trig. And when we'd aot him on his legs again and he learned that 
Mr. St. Clair and Miss Alice, and your.-elf htd departed for England, 
didn't he sell up everyrjiinir to follow her 1 And wasn't it only when 
we sot to M-ulras, thai we learned that Sir Ormond Willoughby had sold 
out and a'so lelt for Enizland.' 

Pol. {mgf'trrioxs g) He's more than ever in love with Alice ! 

Trig. What, SirOmiond'? 

Pol. Wlieiher it w is the siea?, or the sea, or a sunslroke, or some 
unpleasaniness of ihat kii:d, but, of all the changed men Sir Ormond 
Willouglibv is the ch:in<;est. 

Trig. Whv 1 

Pol. That's what I want to find out, as Mr. Jack used to s^y 

Trio. Oh, don't talk tf Mr. Jack to me! tliai's anuther thinjj as up- 
set Mr. Arnold. No sooner liad our ship touched Enaland's shore, ilian 
]Mr. Jack d sappeared, and though a mouth has ela[ sed, we've never 
again clapped eyes on him. 

Pol. {mysteriously). Piap-s b.e'd a sunstroke too! I hear they're 
catching! But is Mi-. Ainold couiiig lo t: e lunchoun to-day? 

Trig. Do you think heil lu>e a clinnce of meeting Mi>s Alice? 
Pol. Then he'll meet Sir Ormond Willoughby as well, for tlie baro- 
net joined Mr. St. Clair on ihe race course, and returns with him. But 
what's the mitter 7 You're nor g«»ii g, Joel 

TitiG. Yes, I im. {'Side, "nl moving up stage). Bett'-r let Mr. Arnold 
know of this — T left iiiin at tlie inn, reaiiing Miss Alice's letter. 
Pol. {aotvn stage). Y<'uM b » sure lo c<>nie back, Joe ? 
Trig. To d M!b it, Miss Dohhs, shows your ignorance of anatomy. 
Where his heart is, there must Joe Tiiggi be. 

As lie turns to go up stage, he runs against Isaac Yipler, nJw, disguised a* 
a mendicant, is entering garden, c. 2Ic carries a walking-stick. 



ACT IV. 43 

Beg pardon, bnt 

Isaac. Please pity the poor blind — please pity! 

Trig. Polly, dear, if you've such a thing as a ha'-penny about you, 
give ii him, and we can setile ihe account when we're married, {bustles of 
at back as Polly oppronches Isaac, who stands c ) 

Pol. (givipff momy). Have you been long blind, my poor man 1 

Isaac. Dnk from my birih, your ladyship. Could never lell one co- 
lor irom ai oLlier — it's on'y by the feel {slyly rubbing money) that I know 
the vurld is green. 

Pol. {at door of house). You mny resi on that seat till the gu-^sts ar- 
rive, {as she exits into house, Vidler opens first one eye^ and then ihe 
other.) 

Isaac This is the splendacious crib ; and Ihe servants are all out on 
the common, to see the people come back from the races, {glancing duly 
into pavilion) There's vheie the luncheon's laid. Nobody look heed of 
the poor blind man, an' I spotted 'em carrying in the plate. 

Music — looks cautiously round, gives a low whistle, which is answered by a 
cough, and the Polecat glides stealthily in at gate^ and pauses up stage 
— he limps slightly. 

Polecat, is it all serene, patri-arch ] 

Isaac {impatiently). Vy don't yer come quicker? You'll have Jack 
Snipe here in a minnit or two interierin' with bis'ness. 

Pole, {limping slightly as he comes cautiously down). If you'd have bad 
a bullet in your leg for ten year, as I've had, your tongue wouldn't rni\ 
so fast, to say nothin' of your othei- jinks, {wi/h a sudden and painful 
limp) Ah ! {clenching hand viciously) When I comes across that Silas Jar- 
re tt ! 

Isaac Labor and vait, my blessed infant — labor and vait. Vot's the 
good o' vurriiting ? 

Pole, {peeping into pavilion oe^^r Vidler's shoulder). My eye! what 
forks and spoons ! 

Isaac {wUh trembling eagerness). The 'all mark on everyone on 'em ! 
Ah, in such matters then 's nothing like having to deal with the real 
gentle folk, {coaxingly) In viih yer, cliild of my 'ait — in villi yer ! 

Urged on by Isaac, tvho kerps his tivo e,\aking hands on his shoulder, Pole- 
cat is cr€ep)ing cautiously towards door, when Jack Snipe darts through 
open ivicket, c, and tvith lightning rapidity glides between ihe ttvo thieves 
to door of pavilion, he is dressed like a gipsy tramp. 

Jack {fiercely). Stow it, Polecat ; and you, patri-'rrtf//. I'm ashamed 
of yer. {drawing hiniscf vp as they threaten) Take the vally of a penny 
piece find I'd bl«>w the i.atF iny>elf ! 

Isaac {stdl threattninij). Who d lose by that? We'vr oar tickets, but 
you haven't yoiirn, my clieiub! 

Jack. Why, you'd lose one hundred pounds to begin wi:h — 'lint being 
the walu.uion they've kindly s-t on me f<>r tiiis ten year. Help me U 
carry out this one thing that I've set my 'art op, and you sludl make 
that amount out ot me; do the oilior thing, and I walks to the neares 
station ai.d gives myself up fit once, {lakes c., between them and looking 
from one to the other) A hundr-d pounds is a large sura. 

Isaac {leith dignity). A V.dler wouldn't sell his own father for less. 

Jack 'Spose I adds another hundred to the figger, ahd another bun-' 
dred to that ! 

Isaac. Yer takes my breath avay ! 



44 NOT GUILTY. 

Jack (p-asping each by wrist and drawing them to htm), I've seen him ! 

Both (m same atixious xchisper). You don'l mean 

Jack. Your enemy ! my enemy ! anybody's enemy ! the ghost of the 
man 1 saw dead — dead, mind yer. dead ! {drawing back wi'h a shtuider-— 
Polecat, tv/to is sneaking be/iiud, roughs — Jack, laying his hand quickly on 
Vidler's arm) It's tliiee hundred clear, mind yer ! a winning game for 
you, ii a losing one for me. 

Music— 2)asscs rapidly up stage, and takes place by side of principal gateway, re- 
peating the ihonoto/wHs whine •' Pity," etc., as Silas Jarkett, in elegant 
morning cosfiane—MR. St. Clair and Silas enter at back. l. c — St. 
Glair looking at his tvatch — Silas, as he comes through gateway, tosses 
money into Vidler's hat, but tvithout looking at him, while Vidler, who 
has stooped so as to peer into his face, draws back with a stari, and disap- 
pears quickly, B. U. E. 

Silas (asidt). I like to scatter money — chanty, after all, is but anoth- 
er name for o.stentalion, and it's a new feelin<i for me to be able to fling 
gold away, {turns to St. Clair, who, as the Ladies exeunt by shrubbery, 
R., comes dotvn stage — St. Clair's manner in grave and preoccupied — Silas 
is very grave and mercurial) And when shall we fix the marriage day, St. 
Clair ? business and pleasure, you know I'm all impatience till your 
charming little ward becomes my wife. 

Clair {coldly). It will be for Alice to fix the day, Sir Ormond — I shall 
not force her inclinations. 

Sil. Inclinations ! Have you any reason to believe her inclinations 
are fixed elsewhere 1 

Clair [tvith hesitation). No, no positive renson, or frankly, Sir Ormond, 
I would give my sr\nct on to the match. I'm under great obligations 
lo you, Sir Ormond Willougl.by — I am a man of business and know that 
such advances must be repaid. 

Sil. When Alic3 Armita^e becomes my wife I cancel all such obliga- 
tions, (airily) It is but an affair with the lawyers, afier all. 

Clair {warmly). Excuse me if I differ, greatly differ with you. I 
fully recognize llie position and noble name you offer my ward, but if 
such a mariiage be against her will, the engagement is null and void. 

Sil. {tvith change of air). It was my failh in that engagement being 
ratified that led me to extend the time for tlie re-payment of my advances. 
(checking himself) However, you have been more than a father to the 
young lady, and I'm sure when she quite understands your position she 
will lender you the obedience of a daugher. 

Clair. Speak to Alice yourself, slie only can decide. 

Confusion of merry voices, as from shrubbery, l., two or three Ladies appear 
at entrance of shrubbery with croquet mallets. 

Ladies {all together run on l. c). Mr. St. Clair ! Mr. St. Clair! 

First L. AVe are disputing terribly ! 

Second L. So you must come and be umpire ! Sir Ormond will ex- 
cuse you for a few moments. 

Claiu {with forced hnigh). I am qu'te at your service, Indies, {aside to 
Silas as he goes up) I* 1 fii d A ice, I will send her to you^ but, whatever 
the result, 1 leave her free as air. (Ladies laughing and talking, surround 
St. Clatu — fhey exeunt to shrubbery, i.. u. E.) 

Sil. {looking after him with changed manner). St. Clair thinks the young 
lady is ignorant of his financial diflSculties, but I've taken care that she 
should have the fullest inforraaiion and know that the prosperity or 



ACT IV. 45 

ruin of her benefactor rests entli'ely in lier own pretty little hands. {wu7i 
change of manner) Sir Orniond Willoughby, of Willougbby Court ! {ex- 
uUanlhj) It was a great game to play, and I've played it well ! Ob, 1 
could scream with ecstacy when I think that the hiw — the law ! the ea- 
gle-eyed law h IS been bafll-d by the vagabond, Silas JarreLt, at last ! 
(^checking Itimself toith a start, then lowering his voice, with cautious look 
round) I'm torgeLLing myself, (ivith a laugh) No ! I'm remembering my- 
self, whicli is just the tbing I must avoid, {confusion of femnle voices and 
laughter off stage, i,.) I'll join tlie cioquet players — {yawns) I'm begin- 
ning to feel the ennui that belongs to a great name, besides, I'm begin- 
ning to grow fond of innocent amusements— they're so new to me. 

Exits by shnibbery, l. tj, b., jauntily dusting boots with handkerchief, and hum- 
ming an air —Alice appears at back. She wears light summer walking 
costume. As she enters by c. gates, her hand is caugJit by Robert Ar- 
nold, who accompanies her— she witMraws it hastily, but without anger. 

Alice {coming down). No, no — you must leave me — you must indeed ! 
I'm not my own mistress, Robert ! 

Robert {passionately). True, you belong to me— your heart is mine, 
Alice, you cannot give it to another ! 

Alice {quickly). No. Arnold, I will not attempt to deny it — I love 
you and bave ever loved you with all my heart, and can picture no 
greater happiness tban mat, of being your wife — I know the full extent 
of tiie sacrifice, but the sacrifice must be made. 

Rob. {bitterly). And, of course, you do not hesitate to make itl 

Alice. Did Mr. Si. Clair hesitate in my motber's need to make a sac- 
rifice for her 1 An orphan and without a friend, has he not filled a pa- 
rent's place to me ? 

Rob. He has. 

Re-enter Jack Snipe, c, and hides behind tree, l. 

Alice. And would you have me reproach myself in the midst of our 
happiness? {placing her hind softly on Robert's arm and looking appeal- 
ingly into his face) Tnat is. suf»posin2, Robert, dear, that we were mar- 
ried — which we cannot he — would you have ine reproach myself with 
the thought of his misery, of liis ruin — a ruin which I might have pre- 
vented 1 

Rob. {impetuously) At the worst, it's but poverty ! 

Alice. But poverty ! ah. I know what poverty means — I saw and re- 
cognized its face when a child — a tnce as terrible as that dreadful one in 
the table, which chills the warm blood in the veins, and changes all that 
is human in us into stone. 

Rob. Sir Ormond Willong'iby knew of our love, and he promised 

Alice. Sir Ormond .Willoughby is a clianged man — lo jiie, to all ! So 
changed, that, at times, even bis voice stirtles me, and I look up with 
doubt whether it can be the same man, once .'-o generous and so good. 

Jack {aside). Bless her! Young or old, one woman's worth tweniy 
me;i, after all. 

Rob. {with passionate tenderness, drawing Alice towards him). Who 
could forego >o sweet a prize? I admit the temptation, while 1 hale 
the man ; but, my own darlisG:, do not believe I will permit you to be 
erased thus from my life without a struggle. No, a thousand times no ! 
I would not wish my worst enemy the torture I have felt since I received 
yo:n- last letter. 

Alice. Robert! 



4:6 NOT GUILIT. 

Rob. Mine is no common love, Alice! No love of yesterdfiy. I have 
ki;own you from a child — loved yon from a child, 1 may t^.iy ; fur in all 
ihaL Ion-:, dreary, awfcii time at Darimooi-, yoiw innocent face was as a 
sunny mi'mt)iy tliai cave me Iiope even in the midst of my despair. 

Altcr {her hend unconscio'islij drooping on his shoulder). Don't speak so, 
Robert, don't speak so 

Rob. 0.1, Alice, my onp ihonslit — my only ilionglit for years— don't 
give me up, dear, don't turn away from me. 

Alicr {suddenly breaking nwiy from him). Good-bye, .'^ny sjood-bye to 
me, R.()l) Ml ; you mustn't spe.uc to me any more, you iiiustn't, indeed! 
[^sinkinfj on garden chair, and waving him away as ]ie would approach her) I 
c.iiri be ir iL. U thert. L'.ive nu». leave me ! 

Rob. {with mdden jjassion, as sobbing, she covers her face with her hands). 
Le.ive y< n, yes; but lose yoji, Alice, never! {moving up stage) I will sec 
this man — liiis man so false to Ids word, so clianaed in ever}''way! It's 
not Willi teats and prayers that I will seek to move him, but as a man 
should speak to the man who would rob him of all lie holds dear on 
earth. [Exit by shrubbery, l. 2 E. 

Alice {springing to her feet), Robert, Robert! {moves up stage to follow 
him, ichcn Jack glides rapidly between them.) 

Jack {putting ^nger to /us lips) Don't shriek, miss ! don't shriek ! It's 
not for my sike, bu'. vnur own, as I repents don't shriek ! 

Alice {'darmed). Who are you? What do you want 7 

Jack {reproiichfdly). No harm to you, Miss Al.ce, you can take your 
oaih of that — quite contrarywise 

Alice {fnrge'tii>g everything in her dehght, and speaJcing joyously). Why, 
it's Jack ! {tpringiiig forivnrd and seizing his hunch) O.i ! I'm S) glad to 
see you — hut, wliy did you leave Mr. Arnold, and why did you leave me ? 

Jack {quite overcome). Bless you, miss, it wasn't for my own good, 
you may be sure — to think Ih.it you should condescend to know me 
a.f.ain ! liilitoff, too! without any questions as to where I've been, or 
wiiat I've been doing— but it's lik** you, miss, it's ju.st like you. 

Alice. But why did you leave Mr Arnold ? 

Jack {seriously). Bpcos he was in distress. 

A lick {'Irawn/g back). Ah ! 

Jack. And becos 1 thought as I'd made a discovery, as I dussu't even 
whisper to anybody. 

Alice. What discovery ? 

Jack {gayly). Oh, never you mind, missee, out I've come ni2h strikin' 
a balancf, an I tint balance will be in your favor, though I carried over 
a thunde in' debt to some one else's account. 

Alice. What do you mean ? 

J.ACK. Whi/;h mea:iiM' sIimH b^ d^veloppd hereafter, {wnile spenkiua, he 
has contrived that they shall approach door of home — voice heard in shrubbery 
— a-iidc. quietly, and uryiny her into house) Now you l.^ave ail this to rae, 
miss, ico'ixingly) You used to trust in Jack once, trust him now. 

Alice. I will trust you I 

Jack {with growing excitemeni). And I'll bring ic through as sure as 
my name's J ick Snipe ! Yes, that's my name, miss, antl — drawing back 
as she exteriJs her hand^) I'd never touc'i those blessed fi :ig«M- tips agaia 
till I've dona a somethina a^ may make y«)u and Mr. Rjbert in after 
years, mind yer, say " he wasn't, such a bad 'ua after all. ' 

-^s she exits into house, l., he crou<-hes ba^kforo»e moment as Silas Jarrett 
and Robert Arnold enter from shrubbery, l. u. e., and come down 
stage— -at the same moment the heads o/ Vidler «w^ Polecat appear, as 
watc\ing near gate, R. u E. — at a signal from Jack they disappear, anj 
as Sn AS and Arnold continue to talk, he goes up stage and off, vs.. u. e. 



ACT IV. 47 

Silas {laughing). A broken heart ! Excuse me, Mr. Arnold, but talk 
to me of fear, c«jkl, hanger, or any of those ailtnet)t.s i,y wliich men arid 
women die by thousands and tens of thousand:^, but a broken heart is 
like broken cliina — the stronger when rivetted. 

Rob. {with passim'tte outburst). Sir Ormond Willoughby, do you think 
I liave loriiolten Die words you uttered in India, when you lay, as I 
thought, dying in my arms, and 1 was ^launching ihe blood tliat was 
flowing from yoni- breast? 

SiL. {ivho has slightly averted his face, now stands with hif hack half turned 
from AuNOLD). Wljai men say under such circumstances is often but 
the utterance of a momentary weakness. That 1 said something vague- 
ly I am aware, but what the something was — perhaps you'll remind me ] 

Rob. The words you said were these — ' Alice has' spoken to me — I 
know all— all ! " 

SiL. All whati 

Rob. And Miss Armitage has herself told me of the promise you then 
so nobly made to her of resigning all pretension to a hand which 

SiL. {mterruptiiig). Really, if ever I talked such sentimental nonsense 
I must have been raving, and I'm grateful to the bullet that recalled me 
to my senses. Alice wronss her own atti actions to think I could give 
her up so easilv. {he again imolently tarns half awcy.) 

Rob. [with fierce and passionate movement, lays hand upmi his shoulder). 
Sir Ormond Wdloughby, you are a villain! a cold-blooded, heartles's 
villain ! The last of your name withouL a relation, and soon — I dare 
prophesy, to be without a friend ; yet you do not shrink from blighting 
the future of two lives, {svddetdg pmiftrs na Silas savagely looks into his 
eyes — both for a brief moment gaze fixedly and menacingly at each other, then 
Robert staggers a step back, but immediately recovers himself, again grasps 
Silas, this time by both shoidders, his eyes still rivetted oi7 his face) You are 
not Sir Ormond Willoughby 1 Your face is the face of the man I knew 
and loved, but your eyes — your eyes are the eyes of 

SiL. {seizing Arnold, and casting him off). Touch me again at your 
peril ! 

Simultaneous with this action, the croquet parly come crowding on from shrubbery, 
L. u. E , and Alice, followed by Polly from house, and Joe Triggs, 
from R. u. E., with tioo Officers, wlio remain at back. 

Clair Sir Ormond ! Robert ! what's the meaning of tliisl 

SiL. {who has recovered his sang-froid). The meaning is that Mr. Ar- 
nold forgets himself when he bandi-s words with a uentleman. {taking c. 
of stage, he points to Arnold, ivho, pale with passion , has made a step towards 
him, but is held back by Alice, ivho clings to his arm.) 

Alicb R>l)erL! lor my sake, f'r mine ! 

SiL. The .-social scale has indeed become a sliding scale, when ladies 
an<i oenilenien can hold companionship with a felon from Dartmoor! 
{general movemctit.) 

Clafr {indignantly). He was "Not Guilty I " (with rapid look round) 
He was not <.uilty ! 

SiL. Not suilty ! the plea that every rascal sets up in the dock. 

Clair. You know the man who robbed me was 

Jack {bursting through company and laying his hand on Jarrett's sleeve^. 
Sd'ts Jiirrett .' That's the man ! here's the man ! (by a quick movement //# 
rips up Jarrett's sleeve, and shows arm bare) It is tattooed, read for 
yourselves, ' Silas Jarrett, traitor." 

Isaac {wlio, with the Polecat has come down, same time as Jack — one on 



48 NOT GUILTY. 

either side of Silas). Whicli I tattooed mjsclf at D.irtraoor, with the help, 
jind i:i t e ])rcseiice of tliem all 

Pole. We swore you should be a marked man among us. {in his ear) 
A fellnr doesn't set a bullet iu his liij) for iiothiu'. 

Siii. {by a powerful effort throwing off Jack Snipe, holes quicMy from 
ViDLER to Polecat, glances round to company^ then draws himself tip to it h 
nsutt m^c/ciiig liuyli) My luck ajiaiii ! {laying /us hand on Jack s .shoulder) 
B\V. we're in the same trai), iiiy friend — I go back >o piisoa, but you go 
wit I m •. 

Jack {very brightly). Proud an' '.ippy, afore I entered on this bis'ness 
d'ye think I did. I't reckon the consequences'? {stepping briskly forward) 
H're, jzeatleniMi, take and lock nie up, but we shall make a inre coni- 
fo: tible ribber at whist, {turning to Silap) I've won the game, haven't 
1 1 and I never doubted but I'd win it, when the stakes was — {turning 
to Alick) your 'app ne>s, miss, and Mr. Robert A'nold's. 

Rob {grasping Jack's extended, hut trembling hand, and shaking it hearti- 
ly). Yow noble, generous, foolislj fellow' had you not left, me as you 
dd, you would have known that a free pardon was obtained as a reward 
for your bravery in India. 

Jack {turning to Silas). Hallo ! You'll have to go alone — sorry to 
break up the wliist party. 

Isaac {with a scream). Vot! {aside to the Polecat) Sold for the hun- 
dred! 

Alice {taking Jack's other hand). And so you'll share our happiness. 

Trig, {who h'ts ndvincfd with Polly on his arm). And ours! 

SiL. (l., about wJiom the Officers Jiave quietly gathered, as guarding him 
— his tuken out pocket-book, which he opens). Mr. St. Clair, this is a lull 
release, si^n-'d by the real Sir O.niond Willoui^hby — I found it among 
his pap?rs {tossing it, so that it fills at St. Clair's feet) I bear you no 
malic — {} tuntUy raising hat) Good-bye, Miss Armitaiie! of nil the as- 
se nble I c )mpany the only person I leave with any feelings of regret, is 
your charm ni, self! {is he turns to go tip stage, Robert makes an angry 
movement, which tv stopped by Alice, who quickly interposes ) 

Alice. Robert! dear Robert! do not iieed wh it he siys ! For my 
pirt, I am so ha{)py at the thought that we shall never acain be parted, 
that I can forgive him! Forgive him with all my heart! (Robert 
clasps her to h'S breast, while Jack bursts into a rapid double shuffle of delight. 
The rest of characters group — Silas, up__ stage, regarding scene as) 

CURTAIN DESCENDS, 



SYNOPSIS. 



The play begins in a street at Southampton, at one corner of which is visible the 
interior of a large room in the house of Trumble, a solicitor, who is visible to the 
audience, writing at a desk. In the street Watti.es, a recruiting sergeant, is busy 
trying to get recruits. One Triggs, having the appearance of a shabbily-dressed 
lawyer's clerk, enters. The sergeant seeks to entice him, but the shilling device is 
"too tliin '* for Tbiggs. The recruiting party all leave, except the sergeant and 
drummer, when Tbiggs is accosted by Polly Dobbs, who comes forward and affects 
surprise at seeing Triggs still tliere. The girl proceeds to tell him that she is cer- 
tainly going to India with Mrs. Dr. McTavish ; bids him good-bye? promises to 
return, as she quits the stage. Triggs utters an amusing speech, half liumor, half 
satire, as he departs, leaving the soldiers singing inside the neighboring tavern. 
Then Trumble rises from his chair, and comes to the window, grumbling at the 



KOT GUILTY. 49 

noise made by the soldiery. Robekt Arnold, in the dress of a journeyman lock- 
sraitb, comes on. He appears to be a great favorite, as the soldiers and others sur- 
round him. He tells them that he has also joined the army, and is going to sail 
with. them to India as confidential clerk to Captain Willoughby. Tkcmble, mur- 
muring at the delay of Triggs, says that he had better meet Mr. St. Clair half- 
way, and disappears. At this moment Silas Jarrett, a gipseyish-looking tramp, 
appears ; he is clad in ragged but showy clothes. The company are laughing loudly, 
and he bitterly curses them all, especially Eobert Arnold— '* honest, hardworking 
Robert, who's always mocking me with his pity." He draws up under the shadow 
of tl;e wall as Trumble passes along without noticing him. Suddenly he affects to 
be drunk, as he is noticed by others. Polly says, " Is not that Silas Jarrett?" 
" Yes, drunk as usual," is the reply. Sergeant Wattles asks if any of them had 
ever noticed his wonderful resemblance to Captain Ormo.nd Willoughby. They 
had. Silas staggers around, listening to everything going on. Egbert recognizes 
him, and gives him his last half-crown ; then the whole party go off to parade the 
streets, except Silas, in whose face Polly shuts the door. Margaret Armitage, 
in widow's weeds, enters, and implores Silas to help her, as her little girl is dying of 
hunger. The wretch shakes her off, entering the tavern, j ust as Robert Arnold comes 
on singing mirthfully. He catches sight of Margaret, who has fallen to the ground, 
and lifts her up, then ejaculates, " Why are you here, and crying ? " She feebly tells 
him that little Alice is starving. Robert becomes sobered in an instant. He as- 
sists the woman to her lodgings, and promises to supply her pressing needs. Hardly 
has he left tl;e stage before Silas enters, and finds Arnold's basket of tools, among 
them some skeleton keys ; this he hides as he hears steps approaching, and conceals 
himself. Soon Trumble and Mr. St. Clair enter. Silas overhears the latter tell 
the lawyer that as he leaves lor India in tlie morning, he wishes him to take posses- 
sion of a note case, and give the contents to any surviving members of the Armitage 
family — who were, in equity, the owners of it. Trumble enters his office to put 
away the note case, watched by Silas, while St. Clair remains outside smoking. 
Robert enters, and impulsively appeals to St. Clair for charity, and, after som« 
hesitation, the latter gives him a five pound note. Robert runs off to use the note 
for Mrs. Armitage, as Silas stealthily enters Tbumble's office, and with Robert's 
tools abstracts the note case. In the next scene Robert enters the wretched garret 
of the Armitages, carrying a basket of provisions. A cry of " Stop thief " is heard 
outside. Silas just appears on the stage, sees Robert through a glass door in back 
room, .ind recoils. Silas has the note case in one hand and the skeleton keys in the 
other. The crowd are heard outside as Silas crams the notes into his breast, throws 
the keys and note case on the table, dropping purposely a ten-pound note. Then 
he disappears behind an old counterpane that conceals the wide fireplace. The 
crowd, headed by Trumble and a policeman, rush in, confront Robert, and, finding 
every evidence of guilt, take him off, handcuffed. Triggs, who has enlisted to be 
with his Polly, when he hears of Robert Arnold's arrest, would willingly fly to 
aid him, but martial law compels him to embark and leave his innocent friend to 
his fate. In Scene IV., which is terribly effective, Silas gets drunk on board a 
packet ship, and gets into an altercation with St. Clair, who finds him in posses- 
sion cf the notes he had left with Trumble. An alarm is given — a scuffle — and 
Silas avoids arrest by taking a " header " into the sea. 

In Act II. Robert Arnold is working as a convict ; Jack Snipe, a very bad man 
with a very good heart, has taken a liking to him, and though, like himself, a cou- 
vict, advises him to beware of a spy, nicknamed the Polecat, and of the new war- 
den, Silas Jarrett ! Mrs. Armitage, St. Clair, and the Governor pay a visit 
to the prison; where Mrs. Armitage sees and recognizes Arnold, whom she and 
St. Clair intend to get pardoned. But meanwhile an insurrection of the convicts 
takes place, and, although Silas fires at Arnold, he escapes ; but the former's cap 
falling off in the melee, he is recognized and denounced by St. Claib. 

In Act III. the scene changes to a. military station on the banks of the river 
Jumna, in India. Sergeant Wattles, Triggs, and Polly are together, and from 



50 



NOT GUILir. 



them, midst a good deal of merriment and love-making-, we learn that Mias Alice 
Akmitage i3 living tliere under the care of Mrs. McTAvifcH, and that Sik Ormomd 
WiLXiOUGHBY— now a Colonel— has proposed *Dr the young lady's liand. An attack 
on the station by the insurgents is momentarily feared, and Miss Alick has escaped 
from her chamber, by the aid of Jack Snipe, the assistant of Mr. Hobeut Abnold, 
who has worked himself into a prominent position by his ability and good conduct. 
Alice tells Abnold lliat she will appeal to Col. Obmond Willocghbv to give her 
up, and consent to her wedding him. She does so. and the noble eoldier consents. 
Meanwhile tlie enemy has approaclied— a fight ensues ; Arnold behaves heroically, 
and Jack Snipe fights beside him, and even Tiuggs becomes inflamed with martial 
ardor. At this moment, when the men have all rushed to the front, Silas, haggard, 
ragged, and footsore, crawls into the verandah. Events pass rapidly now. Colo- 
nel WiLLOUGHBY 13 killed, and Arnold goes for re-inforcemeuts. Silas finds the 
officer's body, and, remembering his likeness to him, robs him of his uniibrm ; find- 
ini; a diary in the coat pocket. He determines to personate the Colonel, and suc- 
ceeds, in the hurry attending the ending of the Buecessful tight, in passing for him, 
and soon after leaves India for England. 

In Act IV. all our characters have rtturned " Ijome." Silas (known as the Colo- 
nel) insists upon wedding Alice; 8t. Claib wishes otherwise. A meeting is to 
take place at Mr. St. Clair's mansion. While Silas is carrying matters with a 
high hand, Jack Snips arrives, having followed him, and penetrated his disguise. 
He is denounced and seized, and Arnold is rewarded for his misfortunes by the 
hand of Alice, while Pollv becomes the happy wife of her faithful Tnioos. 



EXPLANATION OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS. 
The Actor is eupiKjeed to face the Audience. 



z>. s. c. 



D. L. C. 



B.SX. 



BCENE. 



/ 



S.2E. 

/ 



/ 



\ 



\ 



L. 3E. 



\ 



\ 



ArDlENCE. 



L. Left. 

L. c. Left Centre. 

L. 1 E. Left First Entrance. 

L. 2 E. Left Second Entrance. 

L. 3 E. Left Third Entrance. 

L. tJ. E. Left Upper Entrance 

(wherever this Scene may be.) 

D. L. c. Door Lct^ Centre. 



c. 


Centre. 


B. 


Right. 


B. lE. 


Eight First Entrance. 


R. 2e. 


Right Second Entrance, 


B.3E. 


Right Third Entrance. 


B. U. E. 


Right Upper Entrance, 



D. K. c- Door Bight Centre. 



ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. 



" Let those laugh now who never laughed hefore, 
And those who always laughed now laugh the more." 

Nothing so thorough and complete in the way of Ethiopian and Comic Dramas 
haf eter been printed as those that appear in the following list. Not only are the 
plots excellent, the characters droll, the incidents funny, the language humorous, 
but a'l the situations, by-play, positions, pantomimic business, scenery, and tricks 
are so plainly set down and clearly explained, that the merest novice could put 
any of them on the stage. Included in this catalogue are all the most laughable 
and effective pieces of their class ever produced. 

:,,♦* In ordering, please copy the figures at the commencement of each play, 
which indicate the number of the piece in " De Witt's Ethiopian and Comic 
Drama." 

J^W Any of the following plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price— 
15 Cents Each. Address, 

CLINTON T. DE WITT, 

JVo. 33 Rose Street, J^Tew York, 



j:^'" The figures in the columns indicate the number of characters— M. male, 
F. female. 

> ♦ • 



No. M. r. 

73. African Box, burlesque, 2 scene 5 

107. Africanus Bluebeard, musical 

Ethiopian burlesque 6 2 

43. Baby Elephant, sketch, 2 scene 7 1 
79. Barney's Courtship, musical 

interlude, 1 act 1 1 

42. Bad Whiskey, sketch, 1 scene. 2 1 
6. Black Chap from Whitechapel, 

negro piece 4 

30. Black Chemist, sketch, 1 scene 3 
11. Black-ey'd William, sketch, 2 

scenes 4 1 

40. Big Mistake, sketch, 1 scene.. 4 

78. Bogus Indian, sketch, 4 scenes 5 2 
89. Bogus Talking Machines (The) 

farce, 1 scene 4 

24. Bruised and Cured, sketch, 1 

scene 2 

108. Charge of the Hash Brigade, 

Irish musical sketch 2 2 

35. Coal Heaver's Revenge, negro 

sketch, 1 scene 6 

I 41. Cremation, sketch, 2 scenes... 8 1 

' 13. Daguerreotypes, sketch, 1 scene 3 
53. Damon and Pythias, burlesqae, 

2scenes 5 1 

63. Darkey's Stratagem, 1 act 3 1 

110. De Black Magician, Ethiopian 

comicality, i scene 4 2 

111. Deeds of Darkness, Ethiopian 

extravaganza, 1 act 6 1 

50. Draft (The), sketch, 1 act 6 

64. Datchman's Ghost, 1 scene... 4 1 



No. M. F. 

95. Dutch Justice, sketch, 1 scene 11 

67. Editor's Troubles, farce, 1 fee, 6 
4. Eh ? What is It ? sketch 4 1 

98. Elopement (The), farce, 1 scene 4 1 
52, Excise Trials, sketch, 1 scene. 10 J 
25, Fellow that Looks Like Me, in- 
terlude, 1 scene — .... 2 * 

51. Fisherman's Luck, 1 scene.... 2 
88. First Night (The), Dutch farce, 

1 act 4 2 

106. Gambrinus, King of Lager 
Beer, Ethiopian buriesquf 2 

scenes g i 

83. German Emigrant (The), sketch 

1 scene . . . . , g 3 

77. Getting Square on the Call Boy, 

sketch, 1 scene 3 

17. Ghost (The), sketch, 1 act 2 

58. Ghost in a Pawnshop, 1 scene. 4 

31, Glycerine Oil, sketch. 3 fl 

20. Going for the Cup, interlude.. 4 Q 

82. Good Night's Rest, 1 scene. ..3 

86. Gripsack, sketch, 1 scene 3 

70. Guide to the Stage, sketch 3 

61. Happy Couple, 1 scene 2 1 

23. Hard Times, extravaganza, 1 

scene 5 t 

3. Hemmed In, sketch 3 1 

48. High Jack, the Heeler, 1 scene 6 

68. Hippotheatron, sketch 9 

71, In and Out, sketch, 1 scene... 2 

33. Jealous Husband, sketch 2 1 

94. Julius, the Suoozer, 3 scenes .79 



■ CE WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DSAMA (Continxied). 



No. 
103, 

1. 

36. 

18. 
60. 
37. 



101 



30. 



14. 

45. 

105. 

55. 

SI. 
26. 
J 15. 
59. 
80. 

21. 
84. 

38. 
74. 
46. 
€9. 
56. 
72. 

7. 

13. 

16. 

47. 

54. 
100. 
10-2. 

34. 

2. 

104. 

5. 



62, 



M. F. 
Katrina's Little Game, Dutch 

act, 1 scene .•• 1 

Last of the Mohicans, sketch.. 3 
Laughing Gas, sketch, 1 scene. 6 
Live Injun, sketch, 4 scenes. . . 4 

Lost Will, sketch 4 

Lucky Job, farce, 2 scenes 3 

Lunatic (The), farce, 1 scene.. 3 
Making a Hit, farce, 2 scenes.. 4 
Malicious Trespass, 1 scene.... 3 
Midnight Intruder (The), farce, 

1 scene 6 

. Mollie Moriarty, Irish music- 
al sketch, 1 scene 1 

Mutton Trial, sketch, 2 scenes 4 
Musical Servant, sketch, 1 see. 3 
Night in a Strange Hotel, 

sketch, 1 scene 2 

Obeying Orders, sketch 1 scene 2 
One Hundredth Night of Ham- 
let, sketch 7 

One Night in a Barroom, 

sketch 7 

One, Two, Three, 1 scene 7 

Pete and the Peddler, Negro 

and Irish sketch, 1 scene 2 

Policy Players, sketch, 1 scene 7 
Pompey's Patients, interlude, 

2 scenes 6 

Porter's Troubles, 1 scene 6 

Port Wine vs. Jealousy, sketch 2 
Painter's Apprentice (The), 

farce, 1 scene 5 

Polar Bear (The), 1 scene 4 

Recruiting Office, sketch, 1 act. 5 
Remittance from Home, 

sketch, 1 scene 6 

Rehearsal (The), Irish farce, 2 

scenes 4 

Rigging a Purchase, sketch, 1 

scene 3 

Rival Artists, sketch, 1 scene. 3 

Rival Tenants, sketch 4 

Sam's Courtship, farce, 1 act.. 2 

Sausage Makers, 2 scenes 5 

Scenes on the Mississippi, 

2 scenes 6 

Scampini, pantomime, 2 scenes 6 
Serenade(The), 6ketch,2 scenes 7 

Siamese Twins, 2 scenes 5 

Sleep Walker, sketch, 2 scenes 3 
Slippery Day, sketch, 1 scene. 6 

Squire for a Day, sketch 5 

Stage-struck Couple, 1 scene.. 2 
Stranger, burlesque, 1 scene... 1 

and 2 children. 
Stupid Servant, sketch, 1 scene 2 
Streets of New York, 1 scene . 6 

Storming the Fort, 1 scene 5 

Take it. Don't Take It, 1 scene 2 
Them Papers, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
Three Chiefs (The), 2 scenes . . 6 
Three A. M., sketch, 2 scenes. 3 
Three Strings to One Bow, 

sketch, 1 scene 4 

Tricks, sketch 5 

Two Awf Ills (The), 1 scene.... 5 

Two Black Roses, sketch 4 

Uncle Eph's Dream, 2 scenes.. 3 
Vinegar Bitters, sketch, 1 scene 6 
"Wftke Up, WilUana Henry. ... 3 



No. M. F. 

39. Wanted, a Nurse, 1 scene 4 

75. Weston the Walkist, Dutch 

sketch, 1 scene 7 1 

93. What Shall I Take ? farce, 1 act 8 1 

29. Who Died First ? 1 scene 3 1 

97. Who's the Actor? farce, 1 

scene 4 

99. Wrong Woman iu the Right 

Place, sketch, 2 scenes 2 2 

85. Young Scamp, sketch, 1 scene. 3 

112. The Coming Man, sketch, 1 act 3 1 

113. Ambition, rarce, 2 scenes 7 

114. One Night in a Medical College, 

sketch, 1 scene 7 1 

115. Private Boarding, comedy, 1 

scene 5 1 

116. Zacharias' Funeral, farce, 1 

scene- 5 

117. Motor Bellows, comedy, 1 scene ^ 

118. Helen's Funny Babies, bur- 

lesque 6 • 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS (Continued). 



Lancashire Lass, melodrama, 5 acts. 12 
Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act.. 3 



o. 

^4, 

J4. Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act.. 3 2 

J7. L' Article 47, drama, 3 acts 11 5 

11. Liar (The), comedy, 2 acts 7 2 

19. Life Chase, drama, 5 acts 14 

35. Living Statue (The), farce, 1 act. . . . 3 
i8. Little Annie's Birthday, farce, 1 act. 2 

?2. Little Rebel, farce, 1 act 4 

54. Little Ruby, drama, 3 acts b 

09. Locked In, comedietta, 1 act 2 

35. Locked Tn with a Latly, sketch, 1 act. 1 

87. Locked Out, comic scene 1 2 

43. Lodgers ana Dodgers, farce, 1 act.. 4 2 
89. Leap Year, musical duality, 1 act.. .1 1 

63. Marcoretti, drama, 3 acts 10 3 

54. Maria and Magdalena, i>lay, 4 acts . 8 6 
63. Marriage at Any Price, farce, 1 act. 5 3 
39. Master Jones' Birthday, farce, 1 act. 4 2 

7. Maud's Peril, drama, 4 acts 5 3 

49. Midnight Watch, drama, 1 act 8 2 

15. Milky White, drama, 2 acts 4 2 

"• Miriam's Crime, drama, 3 acts 5 2 

Model of a Wife, farce, 1 act 3 2 

Money, comedy, 5 acts 17 d 

Mr, Scroggins, farce, 1 act — 3 3 

Mr. X., farce, 1 act 3 3 

My Uncle's Suit, farce, 1 act 4 1 

My Wife's Diary, farce, 1 act 3 1 

My Wife's Out, farce, 1 f»ct .2 2 

My Walking Photograph, musical 

duality. 1 act 1 1 

Never Reckon Your Chickens, etc., 

farce, 1 act V ■ "r. ? i 

115. New Men and Old Acres, comedy, 3 8 5 

2. Nobody's c hild, drama, 3 acts 8 3 

57. Noemie, drama, 2 acts 4 4 

104. No Name, drama, 5 acts 7 5 

112 Not a Bit Jealous, farce, 1 act 3 3 

]85. Not So Bad as We Seem, play, 5 acts. 14 3 

84. Not Guilty, drama, 4 acts 10 6 

117. Not Such a Fool as He Looks, drama, 

3 acts • . • 5 4 

171. Noihing Like Paste, farce, 1 ace... 3 1 
14. No Thoroughfare, drama, 5 acts and 

prologue 13 6 

173. Off the Stage, comedietta, 1 act — 3 3 
176. On Bread and W^ater, farce, 1 act. . . 1 2 

90. Only a Halfpenny, farce, 1 act 2 2 

170. Only Somebody, farce, 1 act 4 2 

33. One too Many for Him, farce, 1 act. 2 3 

3. £100,000, comedy, 3 acts 8 4 

97. Orange Bio soms, comedietta, 1 act. 3 3 
66. Orange Girl, drama, in prologue 

and 3 acts 18 4 

172. Ours, comedy, 3 acts 6 3 

94. Our Clerks, farce, 1 act 7 5 

45. Our Domestics, comedy farce, 2 acts 6 6 

155. Our Heroes, military play. 5 acts. . .24 5 
178. Out at Sea, drama in prologue and 

4 acts 16 5 

147. Overland Route, comedy, 3 acts. . ..11 5 

156. Peace at Any Price, farce, 1 act — 1 1 
82. Peep o' Day, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

127. Peggy Green, farce, 1 act 3 10 

23. Petticoat Parliament, extravaganza, 

in one act • ^5 *^ 

2 



No. 
61. 
138. 



Plot and Passion, drama, 3 acts 7 

Poll and Partner Joe, burlesque, 1 



act 



10 3 



158 



35. 



110. Poppleton's Predicaments, farce, 13 6 

50. Porter's Knot, drama, 2 acts 8 2 

59. Poat Boy, drama, 2 acts ...... 5 3 

95 Pretty Horse- Breaker, farce, 1 act.. 3 10 

181 and 182. Queen Mary, drama, 4 acts.38 8 

157 Quite at Home, comedietta, 1 act. . , 5 ^ 
196. Queerest Courtship (The), comic op 

eretta,l act J- 1 

132. Race for a Dinner, farce, 1 act 10 

183. Richelieu, play, 5 acts lb ^ 

38. Rightful Heir, drama, 5 acts 10 2 

77 Roll of the Drum, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

13*. Ruy Bias, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

194. Rum, drama, 3 acts :••;" * 

Rosemi Shell, travesty, 1 act, 4 

g/*gl^og ,..••••••••••• O o 

School, comedy, 4 acts. g 6 

Sheep in Wolf's Clothing, drama, 17 5 

Silent Protector, farce, 1 act 3 2 

Silent Woman, farce, 1 act 2 1 

43 Sisterly Service, comedietta, 1 act . . 7 3 

6 SixMonths Ago, comedietta, 1 act. 2 1 

10. Snapping Turtles, duologue, 1 act.. 1 1 

26. Society, comedy, 3 acts 16 5 

78. Special Performances, farce, 1 act. . < d 

31. Taming a Tiger, farce, 1 act 3 

150. Tell-Tale He^irt, comedietta, 1 act. . 1 2 
120. Tempest in a Teapot, comedy, 1 act. 2 1 
146. There's no Smoke Without Fire, 

comedietta, 1 act 1 2 

83. Thrice Married, personation piece, 

J jj(.J; 6 1 

42. Time and tlie Hour, drama, 3 acts. . 7 3 

27. Time and Tide, drama, 3 acts and ^ 

prologue • • 7 5 

133. Timothy to the Rescue, farce, 1 act. 4 2 
153. 'Tis Better to Live than to Die, 

farce, 1 act • • 2 1 

134. Tompkins the Troubaaour, farce, 13 2 
29. Turning the Tables, farce, 1 act. ... 5 3 

168. Tweedie's Rights, comedy, 2 acts.. 4 2 

126. Twice Killed, farce, 1 act b 6 

56. Two Gay Deceivers, farce, 1 act. ... 3 

Two Polts, farce, 1 act 4 4 

Twin Sisters (The), comic operetta, , 

^ g^(.^ 3 1 

162 Uncle's Will, comedietta, 1 act 2 1 

106. Up for the Cattle Show, farce, 1 act. 6 2 

81. Vandvke Brown, farce, 1 act 3 6 

124. Volunteer Review, farce, 1 act b 6 

91 W^alpole, comedy, 3 acts 7 3 

Wanted, a Young Lady, farce, 1 act. o 

War to the Knife, comedy, 3 acts. • • 5 4 

Which ofthe Two? comedietta, 1 act 2 10 

Who is Who? farce, 1 act 3 2 

Widow Hunt, comedy, 3 acts 4 4 

William Tell with a Vengeance, 

burlesque -8 2 

Woman in Red, drama, 3 acts and 



123. 

198. 



118. 

44. 
105. 

98. 

12. 
5. 



prologi 



136. 



161. Woman's Vows and Mason's Oaths, 

4 acts 10 

11 Woodcock's Little Game, farce, 2 4 
54! Young Collegian (Cantab.), farce, 1 3 



62. Photographic Fix, farce, 1 act _ - , „-,.„„,„rir, ^ a fi^ a t rkr> ttv 

A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



of DE WITT'S ACTING 



ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS 

Time of Representation and every other information, mailed free and post paid. 



PLAYS AND DE WITT'S 

Plot, Costume, Scenery, 
Address, 



ROBERT M. DE WITT, 33 Rose Street, New York. 



LIBRARY 




ACTING PLAYS. 



RECENT ISSUES. 



No. M. F. 

201. School for Scandal, comedy, 5 

acts 15 4 

202. Eileen Oge, drama, 4 acts 11 3 

203. She Stoops to Conquer, comedy, 5 

acts 14 4 

204. Drawing Room Car, Petite Com- 

edy, 1 act 2 1 

205. Circumstances Alter Cases, comic 

operetta 1 1 

206. Hair Apparent (The), farce, 1 act, 5 1 

207. Sold Asain, comic operetta, 1 act 3 1 

208. Married Bachelors, comedietta, 1 

act 3 2 

20P. Othello, tragedy, 5 acts 16 2 

210. Mabel's Mauanivre, Parlor Inter- 

lude 1 3 

211. Honesty is the Best Policy, 1 act, 2 

212. London Assurance, comedy, 5 

acts 9 3 

213. The Widow, comedy, 3 acts 7 6 

214. Turn Him Out. farce, 1 act 3 2 

215. Still Waters linn Deep, comedy, 

3 acts 8 2 

216. Mv Neighbor's Wife, farce, 1 act, 3 3 

217. Poor Pillicoddy, farce, 1 act 2 3 

218. Naval Engagements, farce, 1 act. . 4 2 

219. Chimney Corner (The), domestic 

drama, 2 acts 5 2 

2-20. The Two Buzzards, farce, 1 act. . 3 2 

221. Slasher and Crasher, farce, 1 act, 5 2 

222. Cool as a Cucumber, farce, 1 act, 3 2 

223. Betsy Baker, farce, 1 act 2 2 

224. His Last Legs, farce, 2 acts 5 3 

225. lei on Parle Francaise, farce, 1 act 3 

226. Box and Cox, farce, 1 act 2 1 

227. The Omnibus, farce, 1 act 5 2 

228. The Loan of a Lover, vaudeville, 

lact 4 1 



No. M. p. 

2-.i9. Sarah's Young Man, farce, 1 act, 3 3 

2-30. Family Jars, musical farce, 2 acts 5 2 

231. All that Glitters is not Gold, 

comic drama, 2 act s 6 3 

232. Tale of a Shark, musical comic 

monologue 1 

233. A Kiss in the Dark, farce, 1 act. . 2 3 
2;i4. A Morning Call, comedietta, 1 act 1 1 

235. To Oblige Benson, comedietta, 1 

act 3 2 

236. My Turn Nest, farce, 1 act 4 3 

237. A Regular Fix, farce, 1 act 6 4 

2;i8. Trying It On, farce, 1 act 3 3 

239. Limerick Boy, farce, 1 act 5 2 

240. Drunkard's Doom, drama, 2 acts,15 5 
211. Handy Andy, drama, 2 acts 10 3 

242. Dumb Belle, farce, 1 act 4 2 

243. Irish Lion, farce, 1 act 8 3 

244. Irish Tutor, farce, 1 act .... 5 2 

245. Thumping Legacy, farce, 1 act... 7 1 

246. High Life Below Stairs, farce, 1 

act 9 

247. Rough Diamond, farce, 1 act 6 3 

248. Cricket on the Hearth, fairy tale 

of home, 3 acts 8 7 

249. Marriage, a Lottery, comedy, 2 

acts 3 4 

250. More Blunders than One, farce, 1 

act 4 3 

251. Ticket of Leave Man, drama, 4 

acts 9 3 

252. Idiot Witness, melo-drama, 3 acts 7 2 

253. Lend Me Five Shillings, farce, 1 

act 5 2 

2>J. One Too Many, farce, 1 act 4 2 

255. Quiet Family, farce, 1 act 4 4 

256. Sweethearts, a dramatic contrast, 

2 acts 2 2 



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